Catholic:Under The Hood #148 – Christian Meditation
In this episode, we look at the practice of Centering Prayer and Christian Meditation and talk a bit about what I’ve been up to the past few weeks.
Catholic:Under The Hood shirts and hoodies and other SQPN gear
CUTH episode on The Jesus Prayer
Great book on developing your prayer life in conjunction with Jesus Prayer – “The Art of Prayer:An Orthodox Anthology”
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This podcast was a VERY helpful tool for discernment. As a former dabbler in things syncretistic and occult, I have often been concerned about the best way to approach meditative prayer. I will probably listen to this podcast more than once as I assimilate these ideas.
Dear Naomi
I suggest you to also listen to these two episodes of the Catholic Answers LIVE radio show: this one is titled “What’s wrong with centering prayer” and this one, “Learn to Discern: Christian or New Age?”, on which, if I’m not mistaken, some occultist practices are also mentioned.
Thanks. I followed up and listened to the Catholic Answers links and did some other Internet research. The Catholic Answers show led to other topics. My doctor has suggested that I try Yoga or Tai Chi for stress. Thanks to what I learned on CA — I will be finding other ways to deal with stress.
St. Francis Girl,
I practice Tai Chi, which is excellent exercise when taught well. However, my husband and I also pray before and during the classes. In fact, that is how I hold isometric positions for so long – because I am praying the Hail Mary and I can hold the positions longer than anyone else in class – LOL. Also, our class is taught from purely a martial perspective, without the religious philosophy at all.
There are many eastern exercises that are tied to religious beliefs that I consider incompatible with Christianity. However, my shi-fu told me that one of the best martial artists that he has ever seen is this Christ-centered karate team.
If only Catholicism had some type of martial art tied to it. My husband says that perhaps it is jousting… but I don’t buy that.
For balance, here is an article by Fr. Earnest Larkin in support Centering/ Christian meditation.
http://carmelnet.org/larkin/larkin012.pdf
It looks like good thing to me, as long as we keep it in the Christian perspective…