Invitation to Love: The Way of Christian Contemplation

by Thomas Keating

20th anniversary edition of a best-selling spiritual classic by one of the founders of the Centering Prayer movement.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian, Prayer, Christianity

184 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1992

About the author

Keating entered the Cistercian Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in January, 1944. He was appointed Superior of St. Benedict's Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado in 1958, and was elected abbot of St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, Massachusetts in 1961. He returned to Snowmass after retiring as abbot of Spencer in 1981, where he established a program of ten-day intensive retreats in the practice of Centering Prayer, a contemporary form of the Christian contemplative tradition.

He is one of three architects of Centering Prayer, a contemporary method of contemplative prayer, that emerged from St. Joseph's Abbey in 1975. Frs. William Menninger and Basil Pennington, also Cistercian monks, were the other architects.
n 1984, Fr. Thomas Keating along with Gustave Reininger and Edward Bednar, co-founded Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., an international, ecumenical spiritual network that teaches the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, a method of prayer drawn from the Christian contemplative tradition. Contemplative Outreach provides a support system for those on the contemplative path through a wide variety of resources, workshops, and retreats.
Fr. Keating currently lives at St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.

Reviews

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look at spirituality

This is a book of spirituality about one of the great spiritual masters of the 20th century, Thomas Keating. In this book Thomas Keating breaks down all the elements of bringing ourselves closer to the loving heart of God.

Additionally it breaks down some of the psychological stages of individual growth and then compares them to spirituality. This was interesting but way more complicated than a simple person like me could understand. Thus, I gave it four instead of five stars.

However if you enjoy the psychology of growth stages overlaid with spirituality – – this could be the book for you

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the greatest books on Christian Contemplation. I enjoy how Fr. Thomas Keating writes. Warm. Loving. To the point. I enjoyed that he stuck to Christian theology without going into any alternative ideas or paths which sometimes happens with Centring Prayer books. Keating loves Christ and that is very clear in his writing. His writings on the false self, our afflictive emotions, our troubled human condition were clear and understandable. I enjoyed his commentary on Saint Anthony of Egypt's spiritual journey. Brilliant. I got a little lost when Keating described Saint John of the Cross writings on the night of sense and night of spirit, which always confuses me a bit. Definitely a chapter to read a few times. Keating's two chapters on the contemplative vision of the beatitudes seemed a bit of a stretch. My opinion is that Dallas Willard's ideas on the beatitudes to be more enriching and more understandable. The final chapters were absolutely inspirational, I loved them. Keating describes the essence of centring prayer beautifully. I became so inspired reading the contemplation in action chapter, another brilliant chapter. The Spiritually in Everyday Life was short and sweet, Keating provided very helpful guidance on how to live mindfully and prayerfully throughout each day. Another chapter I will read several times. Highly recommend! One of the best on this topic!

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life of prayer can often be misunderstood as a life of passivity, quiet, or navel-gazing. Keating demonstrated that in fact, a life of prayer is about active transformation--of the self, and then through our interaction with others, of the world.

This is a remarkable book. It's not long, but packed with wisdom. There is so much here that links the spiritual/contemplative life with psychological theory and physiological understanding so that one is able to get a holistic picture of exactly how the false self works, and how, through prayer, God works to transform us and bring about the true self.

The latter chapters will need a slower reading at some point, but the first 70-80 pages is eye-opening, and the final chapter offers some wonderfully practical ways to begin the contemplative journey.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in my online local library and have been spending a fair time waiting for the hold to come to me. This is one of a trilogy of books by Thomas Keating, a Cistercian monk in the US, which covers the contemplative approach to life. Father Keating has been a central figure in the Centering Prayer movement for decades, of course, and is very much in the tradition of Thomas Merton.

This book is a good introduction to contemplative prayer and gives a good overview, especially with an eye to its tie-in with psychology and, especially, Merton's concept of the 'false self'. This is an especially valuable section, even if sometimes the comparisons between spiritual development and psychology feel a little heavy-handed (the reading of the Beatitudes as psycho-spiritual stages strikes me as a little forced). Yet, I think the main lines of it are correct and valuable, especially for those with a contemplative bent.

I admit I struggled with the sections on the nights of the soul section, drawn largely from St. John of the Cross. It isn't that I don't think the concept isn't useful. I think it is. I think there have been times in my life when that kind of dryness has set in and those times are usually either periods of spiritual development or leading into periods of spiritual development. That much I get, but I struggle with the language around it, which seems abstract and confusing. I don't think this is Father Keating's fault, but rather my not particularly good understanding of, especially, the Spanish mystics.

This is definitely a good introduction to contemplative prayer and I like especially how it explains the need for contemplative prayer, some of the difficulties, but doesn't leave it there, but shows where contemplation should lead, to action in this world It is definitely worth the read.

[Ashley Connolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice synthesis of the merits of contemplative prayer

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply outstanding. Wish I had read this thirty years ago

[Donner Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fr Thomas Keating has written a book that gleans from among the best of the Church's contemplative resources such as John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Cloud of Unknowing and presents it afresh with a gentle and winsome voice to today's would-be contemplatives. For many who find some of the deep classics on prayer such as those mentioned somewhat dense or obscure will find much to resonate with in 'Invitation to Love'. The method of Centering Prayer which he has helped develop and promote for our generation is a simple and rewarding way of prayer if one sets aside regular time for it. It is together with faithful practice and spiritual growth that one comes to grasp more deeply what is written here. However, even if one is a newbie to Centering Prayer or treads a different prayer path, there is much that one can relate to and find helpful such as his thoughts on the famous 'night of the sense' and 'night of the spirit' which are commonly encountered in one's prayer as one advances. Familiarity with such experiences helps one persist and let God take us to a deeper level of union with him.

Then, there is that beautiful story about Bernie, a real person of great love and generosity, who lives his life to the hilt in a monastery and when the time comes for him to let go, he drops everything in less than a moment's notice. It's an inspiring story of how true prayer makes a person fully human, fully alive!

This is one of the better books on prayer I have read - easy, down-to-earth and powerful. Highly recommended! But be sure to read 'Open Mind Open Heart' before reading this for a good grasp of Centering Prayer, which is the backbone of Keating's thoughts on prayer.

[Fede Boccacci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Con Mente abierta, corazón abierto y El misterio de Cristo forman la trilogía que tiene las bases de la experiencia de la oración centrante.
Este libro da el fundamento psicológico del proceso de constitución del falso yo y los programas emocionales, los cuales la oración entrante busca desarmar.
No me gustó tanto como Intimidad con Dios, y los elementos psicológicos no me fueron tan novedosos; los había recibido por otras fuentes.
Tal vez lo que me pareció más interesante fue todo el desarrollo de lo que sucede en la noche del espíritu y de los sentidos y como la oración contemplativa puede sacar provecho de estos estados interiores.

[Robert Parish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A difficult read for a layman like myself

I read this book with a nondenominational group of men. I didn’t have the theological background, not being Catholic and being educated in secular public schools. Other men helped me with these parts. I had read extensively works by Ken Wilber, and psychological books, so I was able to help them there. I got a lot out of the experience of reading this together and have a lot of respect for this book and it’s author. But I wouldn’t recommend it for an autodidact to read alone.

[Guida Al·lès · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imprescindible si t´interessa saber qui ets.
Les etapes del camí espiritual amb Sant Joan de la Creu + la psicoanàlisi.
De la nit dels sentits a la nit de l'esperit passant per la demolició del fals jo o el jo-ombra.
Si el diàleg ecumènic és clau en el futur de la humanitat, aquest llibre és un inici.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oddly didn't explain what contemplative prayer was and some of the jargon -- especially the "levels" of development like typhonic and mental egoic -- were off-putting, but the overall message was good: move past the emotional programming you developed as child, silence the inner commentary on everything, expect stages where you feel unnoticed by God, etc.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An outstanding book exploring concepts that allow the reader to reach for their authentic self through silence and meditation. I especially liked the practical examples that Father Keating used to illustrate his concepts. You don’t have to be a Catholic to receive ideas from this work.

[Marie Celano · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book that gives specific instructions for contemplative prayer this is not the book. However, I found this to be a very interesting book about the development of a spiritual life with compassion and sensitivity to one's emotional state and upbringing. It's a worthy read.

[Richard Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendously helpful book as you approach the practice of contemplative prayer. The format is as Father Keating used to conduct his prayer seminars. After each discussion there are questions and answers.

[Daniel Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Father Thomas Keating is one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time. Within Invitation to Love Father Keating outlines how growing up morally and psychologically are requirements for true spiritual enlightenment. This is an excellent book full of wisdom.

[Peter Jalilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Keating is Fabulous

Keating offers another text book on the contemplative arts. For the hungry who want to deepen their faith this book will give you some structure and inspiration.

[Gary Hassig · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of Keating's many excellent books on contemplative prayer.

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and inspiring for Christians who sense an inner summons to engage a lifestyle of Contemplative Prayer and Contemplative Living.

[Catherine Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good read and resource by a very well versed expert on Contemplation. I would re- read it again.

[Pete Luedemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth going back to. Good insight on spiritual maturity and the process.

[Connor DiPasquale · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but a little too political as it ended.

[Lory Hess]

It's always comforting to read Thomas Keating. This one was less focused and covered much the same territory as Open Mind Open Heart.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

A single good quotation, otherwise felt like kooky psychology with Catholicism.

Not much on HOW to contemplate, only it's benefits and why we need it.

[delbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book touching on the Dark Night of the Soul, psychology, and the path of spirituality. The book provides some practical guides on how to apply contemplation into practice. It awakens the senses - that we need to look into ourselves in order to make a change to attain that inner peace and selfless love that we all yearn for others.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt a little disorganized in spots, but did present a nice framework for moving to a deeper understanding of God.

[Alberto Lagomarsini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buen libro pero la perspectiva del autor es una variante benedictina. Y cuestionada por autores católicos que el mismo cita.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally finished this after reading it far too slowly over the course of about a year. I started it with a Centering Prayer group at church, but we got off schedule & set it aside. Although overall it didn’t really resonate with me, I’m glad I finished. I had a hard time getting on board with the psychological vocabulary he uses about contemplation, and I wonder if I would have gotten more out of it if he’d used fewer technical terms for the same concepts. The last few chapters had some great applications to social justice, which I really appreciated, and I think I will still explore other books of his about Centering Prayer. This one just didn’t seem like it was the best intro for me, though others may well have a different experience!

[Thomas Fratkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Silence is God's first language; everything else is a poor translation.”

Beautifully written by the man I was named after.

[Lucka Strmisková · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knížka mi byla doporučena, ale moc mi nesedl styl psaní, bylo pro mě trochu složité pochopit, co chce autor říct (mám podobný problém u spousty duchovní knih - můj mozek není schopen ty hloubky pobrat). Knížka je ale rozhodně zajímavá a i já doporučuji k přečtení, věřím, že někomu, kdo není tak přízemní jako já, může dát opravdu hodně.

[DR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful in parts, but overall disappointing

I learned a lot from the review of the stages of personal development, using insights from modern psychology to clarify our innate yearning for God’s unconditional love and the call to worship all who he is, has done, and has made.

Some parts, especially in the second half of the book were pretty dense. It was easy to get lost in the big theological concepts used, many of which tended to be prescriptive and extraordinary rather than relatable for me; but maybe I’m just not there yet.

The final suggestions for applying contemplative prayer in every day life were very practical and I anticipate them being useful, but all in all I’m disappointed with what I took from the book, I was hoping for more information and guidance in contemplative prayer. Maybe I would have been better served to start with the first book in the series.