Prayer By Thomas Keating, Contemplative Prayer - 1515 Words

Introduction According to Thomas Keating, â€Å"Contemplative prayer is a conversation initiated by God and leading, if we consent to a divine union. It is the way to pure faith.† Unlike with vocal prayers, in which we call out to God asking for things we need, with contemplative prayer our role is to allow God to be God. In other words, God directs Contemplative prayer, His grace opens our hearts and minds to the His presence inside us. Consequently, contemplative prayer begins with a centering prayer, which is a silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer. Keating noted that, â€Å"Centering prayer is an effort to renew the teaching of the Christian tradition of contemplative prayer.† Similar to other methods of prayer, the foundation of centering prayer is the Triune God. Keating noted that, â€Å"The practice is based on the wisdom saying of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.† The scripture reads, â€Å"But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you† (Matt. 6:6). Practicing contemplative prayer will strengthen our spiritual commitment and enrich our personal lives. I will discuss the origin, methods and benefits of contemplative prayer. Origin of Contemplative Prayer For centuries, the definition for contemplation evolved. According to Keating, â€Å"Gnosis was used by St. Paul in the Epistles to represent the knowledge of God proper to those who