JD writes: “I tuned into your program on the New Age movement and it suddenly brought a question to light for me. Last week I purchased a children’s book entitled Journey to the Heart – Centering Prayer for Children by Frank X. Jelenek. I purchased this at a very conservative Catholic bookstore with the intention of reading it to my daughter’s kindergarten class at a Catholic school. After your show, I pulled out the book and found no apparent “Catholic” connection within the book. The content is a little concerning in light of your program. Is it possible for you to comment on the legitmacy/intention of this book and if it is or is not recommended by you.”
Tag Archives: centering prayer
John Main’s Christian Meditation Technique: Just Another Mind Blanking Exercise
EM writes: “Recently a friend has become involved with the John Main Christian Meditation movement. I find this to be part of the New Age Movement, but she won’t listen. I would love to be able to recommend to her some writings or recognized persons who would specifically speak about John Main and the Christian meditation Movement. Any articles I come across do not mention John Main specifically and so my friend feels that this is legimitate Christian (Catholic) Meditation. Can you help?”
Priest Warns Against Dabbling in Eastern Meditation Techniques
Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash
This article about a priest who dabbled in transcendental meditation for 18 years before coming back to the Faith, comes as a wake-up call to so many Christians who are casually introducing Eastern meditation techniques into their prayer lives. Many of these practices are not as innocent as they appear!
St. Teresa of Avila, the Desert Fathers, and Centering Prayer
Many people are being misled into Centering Prayer after being told that St. Teresa of Avila and the Desert Fathers taught a version of it. This blog contains a few facts that will challenge these assertions.
How to Deal with Scandal Caused by Some Catholic Writers
BB writes: “One thing that really puzzles me is that both the well-loved Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen were also known for their study and openness to some Eastern religion practices. How do you perceive their teachings?
Swapping Fads for Miracles: Eastern vs. Christian Meditation
JD wrote: “I have just read your book on Yoga and I am left with the impression that if the people who use yoga could be taught and led on the power of Christian meditation before the Eucharist, they would not be so easily misled.”
Mindfulness Meditation
ST asks: “What do you know about ‘mindfulness meditation.’™ Is it okay for hospitals to be using it on patients?”
Father Thomas Keating Dies, Age 95
St. Joseph’s Abbey, Spencer, MA (Wikicommons)
Father Thomas Keating, the Trappist priest who played a major role in introducing the controversial centering prayer movement in the 1970’s, died on October 25 at the age of 95.
Ruah
EH writes: “Can you please tell me anything about Ruah? There is a Catholic named institution here in Houston, that is called the Ruah Center and offers retreats according to this method? I just am not sure I understand enough to know if it is truly Catholic. We are looking for a retreat center and made an inquiry. We were told that we do not fit their method of retreats. Can you help me understand Ruah?”
