Centering prayer

Centering Prayer and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius • In-Person Retreat in Atlanta, June 9-11, 2023

In Events

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Two of the most popular Christian spiritual practices in our time are Centering Prayer, inspired by the writings of Thomas Merton and Thomas Keating, and the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. In some ways these are very different practices, as Centering Prayer emphasizes deep silence and stillness as a way of consenting to God’s action in our hearts.  The Spiritual Exercises, of...

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Register Now for the 2023 Centering Prayer Summit!

In Past Events

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Hi everyone! I’m so excited about an upcoming online “Centering Prayer Summit” that I’ll be participating with — I want to make sure all my online friends know about it. Hosted by my friends Keith Kristich and Jana Rentzel, this program features speakers like Cynthia Bourgeault, Adam Bucko, Mary Dwyer, Phileena Nikole and others (including yours truly). Eight speakers over...

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Check Out the New Podcast from Contemplative Outreach!

In Contemplation, Resources, Spirituality

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I am happy (and honored/humbled) to announce that I’ve recently appeared as a guest on the new podcast from Contemplative Outreach! Opening Minds, Opening Hearts is a new initiative from Contemplative Outreach International, hosted by Colleen Thomas and Mark Dannenfelser. Other episodes of the podcast feature wonderful folks like Lerita Coleman Brown and Adam Bucko. Definitely check it out...

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Centering Prayer and the Mystical Imagination: Complementary Approaches to Intimacy with God

In Contemplation

7 Min Read

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On Saturday, October 29, 2022, I will be leading an online day of reflection on Centering Prayer and the Mystical Imagination. If you’d like to explore how to integrate silent prayer with imaginative prayer, this program may be for you. To learn more and to register, please click here: Centering Prayer and the Mystical Imagination. A few years ago, a popular contemporary Christian rock band...

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How to Deal with Catholics Who Disapprove of Centering Prayer

In Contemplation

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A reader of this blog named Pawel writes: Hi Carl, What would be your advice for someone returning to Catholic faith through a practice like Centering Prayer (having been immersed in Eastern traditions for many years), but coming up against objections when trying to start with the “basics”? For example, I was looking for a good Bible study and came across The New Adventure Bible and...

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Online Event: Centering Prayer and the Mystical Imagination (October 29, 2022)

In Past Events

3 Min Read

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To register for this online event, click here. Friends, I’m excited to join my friends of Contemplative Outreach Chicago, who are sponsoring an online program I’m leading in person on October 29. Hope to see you there! The program will take place from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM ( US/Canada Eastern). For more information or to register, please follow the link above, or read more information below. Here’s...

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In Person Event: Centering Prayer and the Mystical Imagination (Tallahassee, FL; September 10, 2022)

In Past Events

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Friends, I’m excited to visit my friends with Contemplative Outreach Tallahassee and The Front Porch: A Spiritual Life Center, who are co-sponsoring a Saturday program I’m leading in person on September 10. Hope to see you there! The program will take place at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 211 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL. We’ll be there on September 10 from 1o AM...

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Julian of Norwich, Francis of Assisi, and Centering Prayer: Three Mystical Books for Children

In Books, Family

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Yesterday I received an advance copy of a wonderful book coming out this fall, that tells a simple children’s story about grief and loss, while using the wisdom of Julian of Norwich to underscore the message that “all shall be well.” All Will Be Well: Learning to Trust God’s Love by Lacy Finn Borgo, illustrated by Rebecca Evans, will be published in October, so you can get...

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Some Christians Attack Centering Prayer and Contemplation. They are Motivated by Bad Theology.

In Contemplation

7 Min Read

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A reader of this blog sent me the following question today. Hi Carl, I see from conservative Christian circles that WCCM and Centering prayer is labelled new age and dangerous. Are these practices Christian really?  Or are we trying to incorporate eastern meditation into Christianity ? First, the short answer. Contemplative practices like Centering Prayer and Christian meditation are rooted in...

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The Most Common Criticism of Centering Prayer — and Why It’s a Fallacy

In Special Topics

11 Min Read

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Sigh. Last night I stumbled across yet another website from a well-meaning, but obviously misinformed, Catholic blogger who attacks Centering Prayer as “un-Catholic.” Not only has she spilled a lot of ink on her blog about this topic, but she has written an e-book filled with her denunciations of Centering Prayer that you can buy on Amazon for just a few books. Forgive me for not...

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Online Retreat Day: At the Edge of Waiting: Centering Prayer and Celtic Spirituality (October 30, 2021)

In Past Events

2 Min Read

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In celebration of the Christian feast days of All Saints and All Souls — and the ancient Celtic New Year, which happened at this same time — you are invited to a special day-retreat combining Centering Prayer with contemplative insights from the wisdom of the Celtic tradition, facilitated by Carl McColman and sponsored by Contemplative Outreach Atlanta. To register for this online retreat, click...

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Even Your Breath Can Be Your “Sacred Word”

In Contemplation, Spirituality

6 Min Read

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A reader of this blog submitted this question: How explicitly Christian does the prayer word need to be in contemplative prayer (e.g., Centering Prayer)? My quiet-time practice is a hybrid of Lectio Divina with the Liturgy of the Hours. “No problem” with the three discursive steps of Lectio, but when I get to the non-discursive contemplatio, I struggle with monkey brain…...

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