Join us each week online for Centering Prayer Meditation 6 April 5pm via zoom with Kathryn Pile. ALL WELCOME
Dear Meditators
This week we will continue a short series of meditations using the work of Gerald May’s book, The Dark Night Of the Soul; the connection between Darkness (or Unknowing) and spiritual growth. Gerald uses the theology of St Teresa and St John of the Cross to describe this connection. This week’s words come from St Teresa on the theme of likening the soul to a garden with God dwelling in the center.
These words are intentional. It’s a time to experience where and if any word or phrase stands out for you. Take what you need of them into your silence as your centering prayer.
Gerald writes:
- Teresa’s garden contains many exquisite flowers, which she says are the virtues…so that God will take “delight among the virtues.” She says the beginning soul-gardener need not worry about tilling the ground, planting seed, or even uprooting weeds, because God has already done all these things “by the time a soul is determined to practice prayer.” God has already planted them within us.
- Nor do we need to worry about unwanted weeds; that too is God’s work. She even implies that too much concern over virtues and vices may distract us from our primary task in tending the garden, which is to see that the garden receives sufficient water. For Teresa, the water is nothing other than prayer, and prayer is nothing other than loving attentiveness.
As you begin to relax now in body and mind, slow your breathing, and enter your meditation, centering your prayer, your in-most being on your will and intention… simply setting aside autonomous effort to allow God’s deep and obscure divine activity…with your loving attentiveness.
Love and every blessing
Kathryn
Gerald May, The Dark Night of The Soul: p 112-117
We are also using this app to assist.
https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-mobile-app
Remember to watch an introduction to Centering Prayer Meditation with Kathryn. You can see it here
Let us know how you are finding this time – we always like to hear from you😊
Peace and health at this time
Irene & Damien