Centering Prayer 4+

Name: Centering Prayer
Rating: 4.9 (15818 reviews)
Author: Contemplative Outreach Ltd.

Contemplative Outreach

Contemplative Outreach Ltd.

Designed for iPad

- 4.9 • 15.8K Ratings

- Free
- Offers In-App Purchases

Description

“God’s first word is silence.”
-Thomas Keating

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer; rather it casts a new light and depth of meaning on them. Centering Prayer is an ancient method of Christian prayer adapted for modern times by Fathers Thomas Keating, William Meninger and Basil Pennington.

The Centering Prayer application will support your daily prayer practice commitment. Beautiful and peaceful, the app includes an adjustable timer, as well as opening and closing prayer options that you may read before and after your silent prayer time. An assortment of sounds and backgrounds allow you to choose the type of environment you want to create for your prayer time. Brief instructions for learning Centering Prayer are also included.

It is recommended you practice being in relationship with God through Centering Prayer twice a day for 20 minutes to begin with.

Jan 6, 2024

Version 2.6.0

We've been working hard to make the app better!

The new release brings some minor fixes and internal improvements. It also fully supports iOS 17 and drops support for iOS 13

4.9 out of 5

15.8K Ratings

Perfect in every way

This app is the perfect companion for beginning or continuing the journey of centering prayer. The creators don’t charge anything, and yet it has everything you need to begin, including a digital form of the pamphlet available on their website, which gives you the basics of centering prayer.

Using the app takes you through a process beginning with an opening prayer, followed by the centering prayer period itself, which you can adjust to a duration you’re comfortable with. You can also select the Bell sounds you prefer to open and close your prayer. After the prayer you’re encouraged to meditate on a closing text. The opening prayer and closing thought can be selected from a number of options available within the app itself.

In short, I cannot imagine a better app for free that provides the guidance and support this one does, and does so elegantly. The app was clearly designed by people who have no other motive than to introduce the practice of centering prayer to the widest range of people they can.

Surprisingly Versatile!

I love this app. I initially downloaded it to help me with the specific daily prayer practice I was cultivating, and it was perfect for that. Yet as the year (or more) since then has unfolded, I find I use it as a sort of “spiritual spot check” to re-center me at times when I get spun out or off in some way - I’ll just do 5 minutes in the car, or even during my work day. I have used it to share a meditation time with friends during a hike or while on a retreat. I use it as a prelude to a form of journaling I do as spiritual inquiry, inviting God into the inquiry through contemplative prayer before I begin my writing time. The sounds are good, the prayer selection abundant, and the directions at the beginning succinct and clear. Thank you for this app - I have shared it happily many times over!