Ignite the Gift of Faith with the Gift of Contemplative Prayer

By Fr. James Farfaglia
10/12/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Contemplative prayer is for everyone.

Contemplative prayer? Who me? Isn't that something for monks and cloistered nuns? Contemplative prayer is for everyone. Contemplative prayer is essential for the times that we live in so that the gift of faith may be re-ignited and burn ever so brightly.

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CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - Faith is an immense gift from God. It is through the gift of faith that we are able to see the invisible in the visible world. As we read in the Letter to the Hebrews, "Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen" (Hebrews 11: 1).

When we pick up the Bible and read it, it is faith that allows us to see that this not an ordinary book, instead, it is the very word of God: inspired and without error.

When we gaze upon the Tabernacle, it is faith that allows us to see not ordinary bread, but the Jesus, the Bread of Life.

When we look upon a Catholic priest, it is faith that allows us to see through his human frailties and see him for who he is: an Alter Christus, another Christ.

When we see our neighbor, it is faith that permits us to see Jesus in every person.

When we gaze upon the mountains, the valleys, the oceans and the sky, it is faith that allows us to see the beauty of the Creator.

Faith is a gift. It is a gift that we receive through the Sacrament of Baptism. But, faith needs to be fed and it needs to be proclaimed.

Faith is nourished through a serious spiritual life and through the thoughtful study of our Catholic Faith.

Faith must be proclaimed. "What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops" (Matthew 10: 27).

Contemplative Prayer
A number of years ago, my spiritual director turned my spiritual life upside down. He introduced me to the gift of contemplative prayer. I must admit that at first I was a bit hesitant to journey into this unknown way of praying, but upon my spiritual director's gentle insistence, I made the decision to take him seriously.

It is a decision which has been one of the most important decisions of my almost twenty-five years as a Catholic priest.

Contemplative prayer is an immense gift that needs to be rediscovered during the Year of Faith that we have just begun.

Anyone today who affirms "I believe" is a survivor.

We have survived a modern history of wars, death camps, persecutions and terrorist attacks. We have survived scandal after scandal and the disappointment of institutional collapses both in the Church and in society.

We have survived our dysfunctional families and a secular culture which is increasingly anti-Christian.

Contemplative prayer is essential for the times that we live in so that the gift of faith may be re-ignited and burn ever so brightly.

We may be tired of believing.

Contemplative prayer will renew us and allow us to believe anew.

So, what is contemplative prayer?

The Catechism of Catholic Church defines contemplative prayer with these words: "Contemplative prayer is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven sinner who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and who wants to respond to it by loving even more. But he knows that the love he is returning is poured out by the Spirit in his heart, for everything is grace from God. Contemplative prayer is the poor and humble surrender to the loving will of the Father in ever deeper union with his beloved Son" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2712).

Contemplative prayer is not a method of prayer. Instead, contemplative prayer is a free, unmerited gift of the Holy Spirit. Any baptized Christian can receive this gift and every baptized Christian should ask for this gift.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him" (Luke 11: 9-10).

Contemplative prayer? Who me? Isn't that something for monks and cloistered nuns?

Contemplative prayer is for everyone.

But, speaking of the monastery, how would you like to have a spiritual life as described by John Cassian (c.350 - c.435)? "It is not easy to know how and in what respects spiritual tenderness overwhelms the soul. Often it is by an ineffable joy and by vehement aspirations that its presence is revealed. So much so that the joy is rendered unbearable by its very intensity, and breaks out into cries that carry tidings of your inebriation as far as a neighboring cell.

Sometimes on the contrary, the whole soul descends and lies hidden in abysses of silence. The suddenness of the light stupefies it and robs it of speech. All its senses remain withdrawn in its inmost depths or ...

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1 - 6 of 6 Comments

Fr. James Farfaglia
8 months ago
Mario:

Many thanks for your second comment and your kind words. I have read the Catholic Answers material on Centering Prayer. I have a great admiration for the work of Catholic Answers, but on this particular topic they are incorrect in their assumptions and conclusions.

When speaking about Centering Prayer, I would like to limit our discussion to the work of Fr. Thomas Keating. Others, even non-Catholic Christians, have written about Centering Prayer. It is Fr. Keating and Fr. Basil Pennington who have done much work on the topic.

My understanding is that they coined the name "Centering Prayer" in order to attract people of our times to an ancient form of Catholic prayer going back to the early patristic period.

So, sticking only to Fr. Keating and Fr. Pennington, the Catholic Answers articles and the the criticisms raised by EWTN's Johnette Benkovic are incorrect and unfounded. The book that I mentioned by the Irish priest answers Benkovic's concerns directly. Moreover, the author also answers concerns regarding New Age and non-Christian eastern religions, especially Buddhism and Hinduism.

To my knowledge, there is no Church document on the topic of Centering Prayer. Regarding an official treatment of contemplative prayer, the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the first official Church source that I know of that treats contemplative prayer. Of course, the Church has a treasure of writings by such greats as Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. There is a short document from Cardinal Ratzinger on prayer and eastern prayer methods which is very helpful. http://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/cdfmed.htm

We live in a world of unfounded opinion. Everyone has something to say about something. The Internet world of instant publication and instant broadcasting has dramatically increased this problem of the entire world living out of reality. What I mean is this: what does the word mean? What is the truth of a particular concept? What is Fr. Keating saying. One of the greatest gifts that I received in college (Magdalen College, Warner, NH) was to read the author, not someone's opinion about the author. What is he saying? Objective sources.

Lots of Catholics jump to the conclusion that "centering" means some kind of naval gazing, or a Buddhist type emptying of the mind. This is completely unfounded and incorrect.

Now, it is true that New Age folks and eastern religions may use methods of prayer and/or meditation that are the same or similar to Christian prayer, but their purpose and their end are totally different from what the Christian does in prayer.

The method of Centering Prayer is extremely simple: rather than repeating a word like a "mantra", Keating suggest taking one word to express intention. For example, take the word "Yes." Yes to God means yes to Him: whatever you want. Like Abraham and like Mary, the "Yes" expresses the totality of surrender to God. Centering Prayer suggests taking one word as a word that expresses direction or attention such as "yes." But, don't stay with the word. Use it if the mind is bombarded with thoughts. The goal is to arrive at a mind that is silent. This is totally different than "emptying the mind." There is nothing Buddhist, Hindu or New Age about a silent mind. This is all that Keating is talking about. It is quite remarkable how Catholic writers and speakers take Keating's work and immediately jump to unfounded assumptions and conclusions.

The best work that I have found on the topic is the book that I mentioned by Fr. Madagain. It is an excellent work and I highly recommend it to everyone interested in developing a serious life of prayer. My only objection about the book is the second chapter. I am not sure where Father is going. But, the rest of the book is quite amazing and very clear.

As I mentioned in my article, I was introduced to Contemplative Prayer by my spiritual director, a 75 year old hermit who lives at a retreat center about an hour from Corpus Christi. He introduced me to a great gift and he changed the whole way that I prayed before. I truly believe that Contemplative Prayer is the answer for the crazy world that we live in. Just imagine if everyone asked the Holy Spirit for the gift of contemplative prayer and spent and hour every morning in and with that gift! The world would change very quickly.

Centering Prayer is one method for preparing the soul to receive the gift of contemplative prayer. It is a method. There are other methods. But, my opinion is that it is the best method. That's all that I am saying. We live in a hyperactive world where we are immersed in noise. Noise at home, noise in the car, noise at work, noise in our heads. What we moderns need is the profound experience of silence. Order and sanity will come to a world through silence.

OK, end of sermon. Got to go an pray before a busy day begins.

Thanks for your comments, questions and concerns. Email me anytime: fjficthus@gmail.com God bless
Mario
8 months ago
Fr. Farfaglia,

This issue is very confusing then because I have read articles contrary to what you have told me. Catholic Answers, for instance has forum entries that link Centering Prayer with the claim I made--and even New Age. And I believe their apologists (although I haven't listened to the recordings myself) have addressed it also.

I think the Church needs to address this issue once and for all. And if there's a document already please point me to it. I would never dare to claim something isn't true if I didn't have the conviction, much less in matters of the Catholic Faith that I love. I am only seeking the truth.

Thanks so much for replying to my comment. I have also considered contacting you directly. I have read other articles you have published here and they have inspired me. Thanks for all that you do.
roseo64
8 months ago
looking forward to the next article by the good priest, father farfaglia.
Fr. James Farfaglia
8 months ago
Mario:

Regarding Fr. Thomas Keating and Centering Prayer, I encourage you to read an objective study of the topic by an Irish priest. The book is called "Centering Prayer and the Healing of the Unconcious" by Fr. Murchadh O Madagain. I have studied the topic of Centering Prayer and the topic of Contemplative Prayer quite extensively and Fr. O' Madagain's work is the best that I have found thus far on the topic.

A few corrections are in order:
1) Center Prayer is simply a modern name that Fr. Keating applied to an ancient method of prayer rooted in the patristic tradition of the Church. There is nothing new about it.

2) It is not condemned by the Church. As a method, it is not for everybody. But, it does work and it is rooted in an ancient form of prayer in the Catholic tradition of prayer.

3) It is not a dangerous practice.

4) Fr. Keating proposes Centering Prayer as a method of prayer in order predispose the soul to receive the gift of Contemplative Prayer. It has worked for me and it has raised my own personal spiritual life to an entirely new level of incredible intimacy with God.

5) Centering Prayer is not a method based on eastern religions, nor is it a method where one repeats a mantra. Again, I invite you and everyone to read Fr. O' Madagain's excellent book which is available through Amazon. Centering Prayer has nothing to do with Buddhism, Hinduism or New Age. I would challenge anyone who affirms that it does.

6) The fourth part of the Catechism on prayer is an incredible gift for the Church as is the section on Contemplative Prayer. Read the section on Contemplative Prayer again and read it with the book that I recommend. You will not find any inconsistencies.

7) Be assured that neither I or anyone associated with Catholic Online would say or write anything that is not in communion with the Magisterium of Catholic Church. I would die first before teaching anything contrary to the Faith. However, in my writing I like to push the envelope and challenge people to go deeper and to think. Comments, discussion, arguments and other viewpoints are always welcome.

8) Fr. Thomas Dubay's work is excellent and should be read. Agreed. But at the same time Keating's work is excellent as well.

9) I will explain Centering Prayer in my next article.

10) What is important is for all of us to be a people of prayer. Whatever method we use to seek the gift of Contemplative is a personal choice. However, I do believe and agree with many authors, that Centering Prayer is the best method to use in order to predispose the soul for the reception of the gift of Contemplative Prayer.
Mario
8 months ago
Centering Prayer, as far as I know, is a method that is based on eastern religions and attempts to manipulate God by reciting "mantras" (that is, incantations). It was invented and is promulgated by Fr. Thomas Keating. It is not approved by the Church and I believe it is also condemned. It is a dangerous practice. I'm surprised the editor of Catholic Online permitted publishing of this article. I'm also confused with Fr. Farfaglia who first said that Contemplative Prayer is an unmerited gift of the Holy Spirit, which is true, and that it is not a method of prayer, which is also true. Yet he goes on to say that the most effective method is Centering Prayer.

Contemplative Prayer requires a very mature prayer life and close relationship with God.

If you want to learn about true Contemplative Prayer, read the section in the Catechism on the three types of prayer approved by the Church: vocal, meditative and contemplative. Also Fr. Thomas Dubay's series on contemplative prayer is also very good.
J. BOb
8 months ago
Great Article. One area of prayer sadly neglected now days.

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