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I’ve described it to my husband saying that it’s never quiet in there. (in my head) There’s always something going on in my mind. When it’s not thoughts it’s songs.My mind is busy like that, too.
Whether that's accurate or not, there are things that the Church has explicitly co-opted and has acknowledged their pagan roots but then also how those things have been transformed for Christian use. Informed Christians are usually aware that Christmas trees were originally use for pagan celebrations of Saturnalia, but we understand now their purpose in the celebration of Advent and Christmas.Virtually everything has roots in something else. Even Christmas trees.
Centering Prayer was originally called Quiet Prayer, or Prayer of Quiet. It is in the 1917 version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church;Whether that's accurate or not, there are things that the Church has explicitly co-opted and has acknowledged their pagan roots but then also how those things have been transformed for Christian use. Informed Christians are usually aware that Christmas trees were originally use for pagan celebrations of Saturnalia, but we understand now their purpose in the celebration of Advent and Christmas.
Something like centering prayer, perhaps because it's a bit newer to western civilization, doesn't have that same pedigree. The Church already has an abundance of prayer practices that are hers, built on the foundation of Christianity and reflecting the nature and purpose of prayer within the faith. There's really no need to co-opt another religions prayer practices and the Church hasn't formally done so - which would indicate that it's ironed the Buddhism out of centering prayer and made sure only Catholic concepts remain. Better to stick with practices that are known commodities in the Church, like the aforementioned Lectio Divina.
Since you're well armed with articles and the history of the practice, I assume you've read Fr John Dreher's 1997 article objecting to the practice called The Dangers of Centering Prayer? He goes into the background of the Trappist monastery where the practice originated, noting that they hosted speakers and retreat leaders from various eastern faiths quite often which seemed to have a strong influence the way it did over Thomas Merton.Centering Prayer was originally called Quiet Prayer, or Prayer of Quiet. It is in the 1917 version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church;
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Prayer of Quiet
A degree of contemplation in which the soul experiences an extraordinary peace and restwww.newadvent.org
The name was changed after Fr Keating and Fr Pennington gave a retreat to religious. The text of
"The Living Flame of Love" by St John of the Cross was used. In the text the word, "center," was often
used and the discussions around it at the retreat spoke of "centering prayer." As a result, the term, Quiet
Prayer, started to be called, "Centering Prayer."
St Teresa of Avila wrote of "interior prayer" often and as a Discalced Carmelite myself, it was obvious
to me that "centering prayer," and "interior prayer," were the same thing. The OCD spiritual assistant
to my OCDS croup, confirmed it when I asked him about "centering prayer."
"Into The Silent Land," by Fr Martin Laird is a good read on "contemplative prayer."
Yes, I read Fr John Dreher's article back on CAF. It turned out to be borderline fraudulent and not at allSince you're well armed with articles and the history of the practice, I assume you've read Fr John Dreher's 1997 article objecting to the practice called The Dangers of Centering Prayer? He goes into the background of the Trappist monastery where the practice originated, noting that they hosted speakers and retreat leaders from various eastern faiths quite often which seemed to have a strong influence the way it did over Thomas Merton.
I find I agree with Fr Dreher if for no other reason than to err on the side of caution.
Since you're well armed with articles and the history of the practice, I assume you've read Fr John Dreher's 1997 article objecting to the practice called The Dangers of Centering Prayer? He goes into the background of the Trappist monastery where the practice originated, noting that they hosted speakers and retreat leaders from various eastern faiths quite often which seemed to have a strong influence the way it did over Thomas Merton.
I find I agree with Fr Dreher if for no other reason than to err on the side of caution.
I hear the same repetitive thought over and over and over and over in my head.I’ve described it to my husband saying that it’s never quiet in there. (in my head) There’s always something going on in my mind. When it’s not thoughts it’s songs.
As part of my OCD I used to continuously say the same thing over and over in my head.I hear the same repetitive thought over and over and over and over in my head.
It never ends.
I 100% relate.As part of my OCD I used to continuously say the same thing over and over in my head.
It takes patience and focus. Be glad you don't have tinnitus. That adds another distraction. But even then, with practice we can focus our attention where we want it to be focused.I hear the same repetitive thought over and over and over and over in my head.
It never ends.
I’ve got tinnitus but it must be mild because it doesn’t interfere with anything. Most of the time I don’t even realize my ears are ringing. But now that I’m posting about it I’m aware of it.It takes patience and focus. Be glad you don't have tinnitus. That adds another distraction. But even then, with practice we can focus our attention where we want it to be focused.
That is the strange thing about our attention. I can be sitting there in outer silence a nd it seems loud. And yet I can stil shift my attention away from it. That is part of what happens in the practice of Centering Prayer. We practice shifting our attention away from all our daily distractions and refocusing where we want it , on the Lord.I’ve got tinnitus but it must be mild because it doesn’t interfere with anything. Most of the time I don’t even realize my ears are ringing. But now that I’m posting about it I’m aware of it.
It is also clear that the prayer and path St John talks about is very different from something like Zen.: The greater context of a personal loving God.And finally all the worst deceptions which are caused by the devil, and the evils that he brings to the soul, enter by way of knowledge and reflections of the memory, Thus if the memory enter into darkness with respect to them all, and be annihilated in its oblivion to them, it shuts the door altogether upon this evil which proceeds from the devil, and frees itself from all these things, which is a great blessing. For the devil has no power over the soul unless it be through the operations of its faculties, principally by means of knowledge, whereupon depend almost all the other operations of the other faculties. Wherefore, if the memory be annihilated with respect to them, the devil can do naught; for he finds no foothold, and without a foothold he is powerless.
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