Centering+Prayer



**Basil Pennington**, a proponent of the Centering Prayer technique, has delineated the following guidelines for Centering Prayer:
 * 1) Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, relax, and quiet yourself. Be in love and faith to God.
 * 2) Choose a simple sacred word that best supports your sincere intention to be in the Lord's presence and open to His divine action within you.
 * 3) Let that word be gently present as your symbol of your sincere intention to be in the Lord's presence and open to His divine action within you.
 * 4) Whenever you become aware of anything (thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, associations, etc.), simply return to your sacred word, your anchor.
 * 5) At the end of you time take a few moments to slowly come to consciousness and say a favorite prayer like the Our Father.
 * 6) Reserve about 20 minutes twice a day for the practice.

An Introduction to Contemplative Prayer By Fr. John Mergenhagen: @http://www.wnyreligion.net/mergenhagen-contemplative-prayer.html

@http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/private/32977/field-file/cp-english.pdf Pamphlet from above Contemplative Outreach Page:

@http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Centering-Prayer @http://www.livingrosaries.org/centeringprayer.htm


 * Five Kinds of Thoughts:** "Centering Prayer" Fr. Basil Pennington, 100-106
 * 1) Simple Thought
 * 2) Catching Thought
 * 3) The Monitor
 * 4) The Bright Idea
 * 5) The Stressful Thought