My sisters and brothers, today our podcast is about Centering Prayer, and our podcast song is, Pray For Me, Centering Prayer. My friends, have you ever wondered what Centering Prayer is really about? My sister and brothers, are you familiar with Centering prayer? Are you familiar with Contemplative prayer? These prayers, though they are not popular, have been around for many many centuries.
The first time ever I heard teachings on this way of praying was in the late seventies by Father William J. McCarthy, MSA, and Sister Bernadette Sheldon, SCJ, bless their souls. Anyone who has been to their teachings, received deep inner blessings, I know, for their teachings came alive in me. In one of Father Bill’s smaller books, “ Listening to God”, which I absolutely love, his steps of the method are for keeping a Spiritual Journal and praying the Scriptures which describes these teachings. Fr. Bill would start with the familiar Psalm 46, verse 11, Quote: “Be still and know that I am God.” UnQuote. Then this quote from His book, Listening To God, is the summary of these prayers; Quote: “Contemplative prayer — just looking at God and God looking at you — heart to heart and much deeper than words.” Unquote.
Now this song, Pray For Me, Centering Prayer, is a deep rooted prayer. Part of the chorus is actually part of a letter written to me from my close friend, Pam, who was my singing partner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in the small town of Beatrice, Nebraska. Her words to me were an inspiration, she may never know how her words became a prayer deep within me, haunting my every breath, until this song was completed before leaving this small town of Beatrice. Pray For Me is a ‘Centering Prayer’ deep within my own being, and I’m guessing it must be Pam’s also, for her letter was as a prayer for me. Thank you my dear Pam.
