Last winter on social media, I came across another Catholic author who was promoting yoga. Not as an exercise program, but for spiritual growth. I was shocked. I asked her why she wasn’t promoting prayer instead. She answered, “Meditation is prayer!”
Nope.
Two months ago, my brother forwarded an email from a colleague, asking about Centering Prayer. A friend was pushing it relentlessly. I looked at the website of the Catholic group that promotes Centering Prayer and found this in the FAQs:
“This form of prayer was first practiced and taught by the Desert Fathers of Egypt … the Carmelites St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese of Lisieux…”
Nonsense.
The other day a new reader asked in the comments about meditating on Sacred Scripture. “Is this the same as the method of Fr. John Main, who has adapted an Eastern mantra method for Christian meditation?”
Uh-uh.
I have written a little on this topic before, but I think it’s time to revisit it. Let’s start with Teresa of Avila.
Teresa of Avila’s method of prayer
Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross are Doctors of the Church. They are THE experts on Christian prayer. So what method of prayer did Teresa teach? Are you ready to be surprised?
None.
Now that you’ve picked yourself off the floor, let me clarify that a bit. A passage in Teresa’s Foundations does explain briefly how her nuns should practice meditation. But you won’t find a word about this in her classics on prayer Interior Castle or Way of Perfection. Why not? Teresa was not concerned with methods of prayer, but with stages of prayer. She never taught that meditation was a necessary prerequisite to contemplation, let alone the same thing as it.
She had good reasons. In Way of Perfection she mentions a nun who was unable to meditate, but became holy by praying the Our Father slowly and reverently. Teresa herself spent years unable to pray unless she had a book to read, because constant distractions plagued her.
In other words, she knew that everyone was different and that one method of mental prayer would not suit all souls.
Don’t just take my word for it. Here are what others have said:
“What we find in Ss. Teresa and John and in Scripture is a very different message… as far as I can find, not a single sentence … speaks of methodology as a means to deep communion with the God of revelation.” (Fr. Thomas Dubay, Fire Within, 111)
A few paragraphs later Fr. Dubay says:
“While St. Teresa was well acquainted with methods of meditation and wished her young nuns to be instructed in them, she emphatically insisted that the primary need for beginners is not to find the ideal method but to do God’s will from moment to moment throughout the day.”
Pere Marie Eugene, OCD, writes in I Want to See God:
“For Saint Teresa, mental prayer–the door of the castle and the way of perfection–is less a particular exercise than the very practice of the spiritual life…” (53 in the combined 2-volume work with I Am a Daughter of the Church)
Here are the words of Teresa herself:
“Mental prayer, in my view, is nothing but friendly intercourse, and frequent solitary converse with Him Who we know loves us.” (Way of Perfection)
Shortly after quoting this definition, Pere Marie Eugene explains further:
“According to temperaments, the intercourse of friendship will assume an intellectual form, or an affective, or even sensitive one. The child will put its love for Jesus in a kiss, a smile sent to the tabernacle, a caress for the infant Jesus, an expression of sadness before the crucifix. The youth will sing his love for Christ and will encourage its growth by using expressions and images that strike his imagination and his senses, while waiting until his intellect can provide strong thoughts to form a more spiritual and more nourishing prayer.” (55)
Prayer is accessible to all
Do you see how important this is? If true mental prayer, the necessary preparation for the gift of contemplation, requires an elaborate method, it is elitist. Such a way bars the ignorant, children, and those of certain temperaments or psychological weaknesses from being contemplatives. It bars them from intimacy with Christ. It makes holiness the possession of the few who know enough and who have the right natural gifts. This is not the Gospel!
Children can become saints. Some have. For St. Therese of Lisieux, spiritual childhood was the way to reach the heights of holiness very quickly. And we are supposed to believe that she taught a form of prayer that was reserved for the few?
On the contrary, the essential element is not a method, but the loving friendship between the person praying and God.
St. Therese’s method of prayer
St. Therese speaks in a similar way as her patron saint and spiritual mother:
“With me prayer is a lifting up of the heart, a look towards Heaven, a cry of gratitude and love uttered equally in sorrow and in joy; in a word, something noble, supernatural, which enlarges my soul and unites it to God…. Except for the Divine Office, which in spite of my unworthiness is a daily joy, I have not the courage to look through books for beautiful prayers…. I do as a child who has not learned to read, I just tell our Lord all that I want and he understands.” (Story of a Soul, Ch. 11)
Do you see any indication there of a method we should all follow? In contrast to this, those who want to learn Centering Prayer are encouraged to attend a retreat or workshop or take an online course. But the proponents of Centering Prayer still insist it’s not a technique! It doesn’t take a workshop or a class to learn to speak to God from the heart. Moses spoke to God “as a man speaks to his friend.” That is mental prayer.
Are methods useless?
Now, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t practice any method of prayer. Methods help us stay on track. They help us not sit idly in our prayer time. Some methods are better than others. But the key is this: no one method of prayer is required to prepare us for contemplation. And no method at all can make us contemplatives.
Contemplation is the goal. And contemplation is not an altered state of consciousness. It is not peaceful feelings. It is a supernatural gift. It is God drawing the soul to Himself on His own initiative. It is a progressive union with Him.
Well, some are
So, why do I say that meditation is not prayer? Prayer can be practiced in many legitimate ways. One of them is meditation. But not Buddhist/Hindu/yoga meditation. Those have a different goal. They are not prayer at all! Christian meditation always centers on Christ. There are many traditional means of Christian meditation. Here is one example.
Do not look for God in pagan religious practices. The Church gives us all we need and more, without the dangers of dabbling in foreign religions.
As for Fr. John Main, the criticisms I have read of his method are very similar to criticisms of Centering Prayer. It too originated in pagan religions, trying to make their practices Catholic, and failing. Christ, not a mantra, is the focus of our prayer. Fr. Main’s organization has been accused of syncretism. He apparently learned his method of “prayer” from a Hindu Swami.
If you want to know what Carmelites mean by contemplation, read the two posts that begin here. God willing, I will speak about prayer further next week.
Connie Rossini
barbaraschoeneberger
So glad you wrote about this. At one time centering prayer was being promoted by people at a parish in the area. They were having speakers come in from St. Louis. I had never heard of it, but the name itself gave me the creepiest feeling. When I researched it on line I was very upset. Why, I thought, weren’t St. Teresa of Avila’s writings good enough?
No matter how people dress this thing up, it steers people away from a)submission and focus on God and b) promotes the error that something we do rather than what God does will lead to a particular result. Part of my submitting to God’s will is to approach Him like a child and let Him lead. This constant search for something new and different is the very thing St. Paul warned us about in 2:Tim. 4:3-4: “For there shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears:And will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables.” If we cling to our Catholic traditions of prayer we will not fall prey to what are obvious machinations of the devil.
Connie Rossini
Great reflections, Barb. I think one of the draws is that people think they can become instant contemplatives, and it doesn’t work that way. We must work hard and do lots of mortification, especially of the will, to grow in intimacy with Christ. Theses false types of contemplation would have us believe that God responds to a technique rather than our gift of self.
Georgia
Thanks, I always worried that my prayers were not as good as what others said it should be. I tried so hard to be able to meet expectations from books about prayer and could never manage it. You have confirmed my thoughts, prayer is humble and full or love. Nothing else is required but the trinity, my beads and me.
Connie Rossini
Georgia, I’m so glad you’ve realized this. We could spend our whole lives trying to live up to others’ expectations of what our spiritual lives should look like. God created all temperaments and does not bar anyone from intimacy with Him. If we can’t do a certain method of prayer, the solution is to try a different method.
Alyosha
I don’t disagree with anything you say. Except, if you believe that meditation is about “an altered state of consciousness” or about achieving “peaceful feelings”, you don’t understand meditation.
Connie Rossini
Well, I think for many Christians who are pursuing it, the peaceful feelings that they get from, say, yoga, are in their view a sign that they are experiencing contemplation. That’s not one of the signs of contemplation, as Teresa and John use the word. Now, I would not in any way say that I’m an expert on eastern meditation, so if you can point me to a resource (online preferably) that explains it in a simple and accurate manner, I’d appreciate it. My intent is not to misrepresent what other people believe and practice, but to help Catholics understand and practice their own traditions.
Alyosha
I understand your purpose. And I appreciate your tolerating a non-Catholic listening in on your conversations.
In the Tibetan tradition, there is a word “nyam” — which means meditation experiences. Specifically, it refers to what we would generally think of as positive experiences — such as bliss or clarity. There is nothing wrong with these experiences but they become real obstacles if they become the object or focus of meditation. Whenever spiritual practices become a basis for pride or pleasure, we call that “spiritual materialism” — and it becomes an obstacle to realizing compassion and awakened mind or heart.
I realize that, at the very least, we use different words for these experiences and that our traditions are very different and shouldn’t be blended. But an analogy might be someone who prays and takes personal pride in the peace that “passes understanding” that comes from prayer and considers themselves a saint or spiritual person. The experience is beautiful and not a problem. But the attachment to it can be a temporary problem.
The Tibetans say that you should have no more attachment to bliss or clarity than you should have to spit on the sidewalk.
Connie Rossini
Thanks, Alyosha. I remember your talking about something similar before. BTW, I always wondered if your nickname was a reference to The Brothers Karamazov?
Alyosha
That’s exactly it! I loved that novel — and the more spiritual of the four brothers seemed a good choice for a nickname.
Connie Rossini
Alyosha is my favorite for the same reason. He kind of reminds me of my brother who became a Carmelite monk.
Kathryn
Thank you Alyosha, I appreciate ecumenical conversations and open discussions. It is wonderful to concentrate on what we share, and there is frequently more than we think. Bless you.
Reese
I’m sorry for butting in Kathryn, but I felt I had to say something. Alyosha is sharing something that is not even close to Catholicism. She should be gently reminded of that and pointed in the right direction, which is Catholicism.
Connie Rossini
Reese, Alyosha is one of my earliest and most faithful subscribers. I am thankful to him for sticking around, reading my posts, which are always implying–if not saying outright–that Catholicism is the one true way to God, and always engaging me and other readers with respect and charity. I appreciate your concern for his soul, and I’m sure he does likewise. We will keep praying that one day he crosses the Tiber.
Sharon Rose Szczerba
How easy we find conversing with one another to be. Sadly, just enter my church before Mass or after and you shall find plenty of conversing between people. But how is it that we find conversation
with God to be difficult. We don’t look for methods when we speak with one another, so why would we do so with God. I don’t pretend to be some expert when it comes to prayer, for I know I am not,
however my prayer seems to consist in simple conversation with God, about anything and everything. I simply share my day with Him, as it is taking place, no matter where I am or what I am doing.
Yes I love to spend time with Him in the Blessed Sacrament, but so too do I take Him with me throughout the day and share everything with Him. I remember once Mother Angelica speaking on how
she ran to chapel to show Our Lord a new pair of shoes. I remember how impressed I was with that, for I am inclined to do the same, simply share everything in my day with Him. It is not, however
a one way street, for when I least expect it, suddenly Our Lord is sharing something with me. It will come out of the blue, and have nothing at all to do with what I am doing at the time or thinking.
I am suddenly just aware of some aspect of Himself, something He wants me to understand or learn about Himself. It last but a moment, but leaves a lasting impression. I am filled with an
understanding of things I did not understand before, or even thought of. Then as if to confirm what He has shared with me, I suddenly will find the same thing in a spiritual book I am reading, or
coming from a priest in a sermon, or by watching something on EWTN. I think Our Lord wants to share everything in our day with Him, and not just at certain times but all the time. Who could be
closer to us than He is, He Who dwells within our very soul. Yes I believe in formal prayer, the Mass first and foremost, the Divine Office, the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, meditation, etc.
but outside of these prayers, would not Our Lord delight in our conversing with Him about everything else in our day, and all during our day. If so, then our whole day can become prayer,
conversation with Him Who loves us so much. I find I can not get through my day without this informal, if you will, prayer, as well as the formal. Please tell me if I am all washed up in my prayer
which I believe to be simply a loving conversation with Him, anywhere and every where. Oh if we but look around us, we can see His love for us in so many ways. Our heart can soar to Him at
any and all moments if we would but let it. It may not be so easy in the painful moments as it would be looking at a beautiful sun rise, but He is still there, in all of His beauty, for His cross is
what will lead us to see Him face to face, if for love of Him we accept it as He did for love of us. I love the words of St. Therese when she says, “Everything is grace, everything is the direct effect
of the Father’s love. Everything is grace because everything is God’s gift. What ever be the character of life or its unexpected events to the heart that loves, all is well.” Only in sharing my day
with Him can I see this, otherwise I would be totally over whelmed and not able to go on. Please forgive my going on and on like this. I have no right to do so.
Connie Rossini
Sharon, rather than being “all washed up,” I suspect you’re on your way to a deep relationship with God. Keep going.
Nancy
Thank you for saying this, so clearly and so well.
Connie Rossini
You’re welcome, Nancy. It’s always encouraging when other writers I respect say good things about my work.
Lydia
I’m SO thrilled you are covering this topic. Several years ago, any time you would look up contemplative prayer online you would find techniques of centering prayer being touted, or told that centering prayer was contemplation, which it isn’t. It was very frustrating. It wasn’t until websites like Dan Burke’s Catholic Spiritual Direction http://spiritualdirection.com/ were created, books from wonderful masters like Fr. Thomas Dubay, and blogs like yours, that people started to be able to get the true Church teaching. With Eastern methods of prayer they don’t think of God as someone to have a loving relationship with, and the whole altered states of mind thought really confuses many, including me, as to what real prayer is supposed to be like. I look forward to your upcoming posts.
Connie Rossini
Thanks, Lydia. I don’t hear about Centering Prayer quite as much as I used to. And the proponents of it have changed the way they talk about it to make it sound more Christian. But the essence of what they’re promoting is the same, and they still do retreats all over the place. I find it very sad that when children ask for fish, some people hand them a snake, if you know what I’m saying. People are hungry for a deep relationship with God, and they are being fed a method instead.
Bruce Davis
Please, as contemplatives, can’t we get beyond judging others, knowing from our own deep experience that God is beyond our words, techniques, and yes religion?. As contemplatives we meet the inner mystic in all, including those of other religions! As contemplatives we experience God as a vast love and only love and service are our response in gratitude for this life, the life of our soul.
I suggest you read: The Love Letters: St. Francis & St. Clare meet Pope Francis about the potential of contemplative living….
I pray for the day when we find the spirit, the holiness which binds us together instead of the hard words which create division….love is love,,, if people are finding love and service, truly opening their hearts this is good!
thanks and many blessings,
Bruce
Connie Rossini
Bruce, this has nothing to do with judging others and everything to do with truth. I admit it makes me angry when people who are hungry for God (what Jesus called children asking for a fish) are told that repeating a mantra will make them contemplatives (they are given a snake instead). Only Jesus satisfies. Only Jesus saves and redeems us. Our religion has been revealed by God Himself.
We cannot become contemplatives (in the Christian sense) by repeating a mantra. Christian contemplation is a deep personal immersion in the love of the Trinity through Jesus Christ. If some people in other religions experience this, it is only because they are seeking the truth to the best of their ability and God reaches down to them in love to bring them close to Himself. The method of eastern meditation used does not get them there. If you ask Buddhists and Hindus the purpose of their meditation, they will not tell you that it is union with and love of a personal God, because they don’t believe in a personal God. In fact, their type of meditation is designed to help them lose their individuality and as such is anti-personal. I find that non-Christians tend to recognize the difference between their meditation and true Christian prayer quite easily. It is on our side that people are mistaking one for the other, and this shows an ignorance of the Christian tradition which is sad. I do not blame the average Catholic for being deceived, but I think those who continue to teach these methods after the Vatican has warned against them are to some extent culpable. Here is how the Catechism defines meditation: “Meditation is above all a quest. The mind seeks to understand the why and how of Christian life, in order to adhere and respond to what the Lord is asking” (2703). It quotes Teresa of Avila when defining contemplation as “a close sharing between friends…” It also says, “Contemplative prayer seeks him ‘whom my soul loves.'” (2709). This is opposite to the way Centering Prayer teaches meditation (getting rid of all thoughts and concepts), and completely foreign to non-Christian forms of contemplation. Using the same word for two different realities does not make them the same thing.
God bless you on your quest.
Nicholas
Good point. Even though I believe the fullest of the revelation on God has been through Jesus Christ [i.e. we know who God really is through Jesus Christ], God is above religions. We are all his children and as the Fathers of the Church say, there are seeds of the Word [in Greek philosophy, the Word was what created the universe, and Saint John refers to Jesus as being the Word of God, through him all things were made and as Saint Athanasius say He is maintaining the universe all together] in other religion [before the full revelation came through Jesus-Christ]. Of course their interpretation of reality [both material and spiritual] might be erroneous, however I truly believe their mystical experiences are authentic and christian mystics can meet other mystics and that deepest level. I encourage people to visit http://www.dimmid.org/ .
Nicholas
Please also visit this link which is similar to the previous one http://monasticinterreligiousdialogue.com/