Why centering prayer should not be taught to children

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.”

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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?”

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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!

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?”

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