Spirituality, Contemplation, and Transformation: Writings on Centering Prayer

by Thomas Keating

In Spirituality, Contemplation & Transformation, some of the leading practitioners of centering prayer―the contemporary expression of the Christian contemplative tradition as developed by the desert fathers and mothers and elaborated by mystics such as saints John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila―write about the many and varied benefits of this dynamic and intimate means of connecting with the Divine. Thomas Keating and David Frenette examine the sources of centering prayer Justin Langille and Jennifer Michael explore different facets of the wisdom of silence and Paul David Lawson, David G.R. Keller, and Tom Macfie explain the vital role centering prayer can play in fostering communities of faith. Cynthia Bourgeault explicates philosopher and spiritual practitioner Beatrice Bruteau's study of the meaning of contemplation Brian Taylor uncovers the positive mental changes that centering prayer can bring about and Thomas Ward reflects on spirituality in the twenty-first century, as well as the inspiring experience of attending a centering prayer retreat. Of interest to anyone involved with contemporary Christian life, these essays, originally published in the Sewanee Theological Review, contribute to the growing body of literature on centering prayer―its practice, theory, and applications―and offer valuable entry points for all those interested in deepening their spiritual practice and fostering a more profound relationship with the Divine.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Catholic

348 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

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

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for the article by Beatrice Bruteau called "Prayer and Identity" which I had read about in a memorial article by Cynthia Bourgeault. Bourgeault said the article had profoundly impacted her. That article was worth the cost of the book, but there were several other articles that I found helpful in my understanding of Centering Prayer. One especially good one was CHANGING YOUR MIND: Contemplative Prayer and Personal Transformation by Brian C. Taylor. He compares therapy and centering prayer in how they "rewire" the neurological pathways that lead to problems in trying to live a full life.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gives a good overview of Centering Prayer! It helped me understand where Centering prayer got its start and why it is integral to living a life of transformation. It explains "christian" prayer practices and how centering prayer is one of the ways to pray and the one that will actually lead one to live of life of action and not just spiritual practice (contemplation) but to be the change you want to see in the world.

[Hannah Jansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theological therapy

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of insights into Christian contemplation

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heads up that this isn't really a book by Fr. Thomas Keating. He's one of several contributors to it.

Beatrice Bruteau's "Prayer and Identity" chapter, and Cynthia Bourgeault's commentary on it, are the heart of this book for me. Warrants multiple reads.

I just completed an 8-day intensive Centering Prayer retreat led by one of this book's contributors and its editor(?) Thomas R. Ward. Transformative.