--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Centering Prayer is an opening, a…" description: "\"“Centering Prayer is an opening, a response, a putting aside of all the debris that stands in the way of our being totally present to the present Lord,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/basil-pennington-60703_centering_centering-prayer-is-an-opening-a-respons_1169018.jpg" --- # Centering Prayer is an opening, a response, a putting… ![“Centering Prayer is an opening, a response, a putting aside of all the debris that stands in the way of our being totally present to the present Lord, so that He can be present to us. It is a laying aside of thoughts, so that the heart can attend immediately to Him. All prayer is a response. The…” quote by Basil Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/basil-pennington-60703_centering_centering-prayer-is-an-opening-a-respons_1169018.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/basil-pennington-60703_centering_centering-prayer-is-an-opening-a-respons_1169018.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/676/basil-pennington-60703_centering_centering-prayer-is-an-opening-a-respons_1169018.jpg) > ““Centering Prayer is an opening, a response, a putting aside of all the debris that stands in the way of our being totally present to the present Lord, so that He can be present to us. It is a laying aside of thoughts, so that the heart can attend immediately to Him. All prayer is a response. The Lord first knocks, beckons, calls to us.”” [Basil Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-pennington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Centering prayer clears mental clutter, allowing divine presence to be fully experienced. **In simple terms:** Clear mind for prayer. Key Takeaway Practice stillness and listen. Themes spirituality mindfulness prayer Mood peaceful reverent Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - daily meditation - spiritual retreats - stress relief - personal worship Key Concepts contemplative practice theology Questions to Reflect On - How do you quiet your mind? - What does “presence” mean to you? A Different Perspective Distractions can persist despite effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Centering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centering/) [Centering prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centering-prayer/) [Immediately Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immediately-prayer-1901465/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Opening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-opening-1665595/) [Prayer Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-response-1496848/) ## Related quotes > [I've practiced centering prayer. I've contemplatively prayed. I've prayed liturgically... I've benefited from each, and I still do. In ways you'll see, elements of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-crabb/i-ve-practiced-centering-prayer-i-ve-contemplatively-prayed-i-ve/) [Larry Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-crabb/) > [Other forms of relating to God that have unique value in connecting us to Him include contemplative prayer and centering prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-crabb/other-forms-of-relating-to-god-that-have-unique-value-in-connecting/) [Larry Crabb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-crabb/) > [Centering prayer is a training in letting go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/centering-prayer-is-a-training-in-letting-go/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [While doing centering prayer, the practice is to let go of any thought or perception. The priority is to be as silent as possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/while-doing-centering-prayer-the-practice-is-to-let-go-of-any-thought/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [One of the values of centering prayer is that you are not thinking about God during the time of centering prayer so you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/one-of-the-values-of-centering-prayer-is-that-you-are-not-thinking/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [“To pastors and teachers If all who laboured for the conversion of others were to introduce them immediately into Prayer and the Interior Life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-guyon/to-pastors-and-teachers-if-all-who-laboured-for-the-conversion-of/) [Madame Guyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-guyon/) > [In my opinion, it is a mistake to expect in prayer a response from God. Often, God's response is outside prayer. And often, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-hume/in-my-opinion-it-is-a-mistake-to-expect-in-prayer-a-response-from-god/) [Basil Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-hume/) > [“We are summoned not only to intimacy but to take possession of our very oneness with the Son of God in the inner life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-pennington/we-are-summoned-not-only-to-intimacy-but-to-take-possession-of-our/) [Basil Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-pennington/) > [Prayer is the opening of the soul to God so that he can speak to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgia-harkness/prayer-is-the-opening-of-the-soul-to-god-so-that-he-can-speak-to-us/) [Georgia Harkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgia-harkness/) > [Prayer is the opening of the heart so we can receive all these good things that God has for us every day. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cymbala/prayer-is-the-opening-of-the-heart-so-we-can-receive-all-these-good/) [Jim Cymbala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cymbala/) > [“RESIST no thought; RETAIN no thought; REACT to no thought; RETURN to the sacred word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bourgeault/resist-no-thought-retain-no-thought-react-to-no-thought-return-to-the/) [Cynthia Bourgeault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bourgeault/) > [ This mystical stream \[contemplative prayer\] is the Western bridge to Far Eastern spirituality. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilden-edwards/this-mystical-stream-contemplative-prayer-is-the-western-bridge-to/) [Tilden Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilden-edwards/) > [In centering prayer, the sacred word is not the object of the attention but rather the expression of the intention of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/in-centering-prayer-the-sacred-word-is-not-the-object-of-the/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [By centering our lives on correct principles and creating a balanced focus between doing and increasing our ability to do, we become empowered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/by-centering-our-lives-on-correct-principles-and-creating-a-balanced/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I also use that centering process I mentioned as a way to focus my mind and connect it to my physical body. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-schull/i-also-use-that-centering-process-i-mentioned-as-a-way-to-focus-my/) [Amanda Schull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-schull/) ## More by Basil Pennington > [Unfortunately, in seeing ourselves as we truly are, not all that we see is beautiful and attractive. This is undoubtedly part of the reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-pennington/unfortunately-in-seeing-ourselves-as-we-truly-are-not-all-that-we-see/) [Basil Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-pennington/) > [“We ought not to READ the scriptures, but listen to them, for our Beloved is present and speaks to us through them. (vs. it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-pennington/we-ought-not-to-read-the-scriptures-but-listen-to-them-for-our/) [Basil Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-pennington/) > [“We are summoned not only to intimacy but to take possession of our very oneness with the Son of God in the inner life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-pennington/we-are-summoned-not-only-to-intimacy-but-to-take-possession-of-our/) [Basil Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-pennington/) > [False self is an identity based on what you have, what you do, and what others think about you. In stark contrast to this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basil-pennington/false-self-is-an-identity-based-on-what-you-have-what-you-do-and-what/) [Basil Pennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-pennington/) [Explore all 5 Basil Pennington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basil-pennington/) ## More Centering quotes > [I also use that centering process I mentioned as a way to focus my mind and connect it to my physical body. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-schull/i-also-use-that-centering-process-i-mentioned-as-a-way-to-focus-my/) [Amanda Schull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-schull/) > [By centering our lives on correct principles and creating a balanced focus between doing and increasing our ability to do, we become empowered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/by-centering-our-lives-on-correct-principles-and-creating-a-balanced/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Energy-fire experiences take us into ourselves only that we might reach outside of ourselves. Metanoia is a de-centering experience of connected-ness and community. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/energy-fire-experiences-take-us-into-ourselves-only-that-we-might/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [“Probably the most important element in intricacy is centering. Good small parks typically have a place somewhere within them commonly understood to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/probably-the-most-important-element-in-intricacy-is-centering-good/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Live in this world, because this world gives a ripening, maturity, integrity. The challenges of this world give you a centering, an awareness. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/live-in-this-world-because-this-world-gives-a-ripening-maturity/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I try to influence this improvisation in two ways. One is by centering on reflections, in both senses of the word: acoustic reflections as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pauline-oliveros/i-try-to-influence-this-improvisation-in-two-ways-one-is-by-centering/) [Pauline Oliveros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pauline-oliveros/) > [After doing this work or the past twelve years and watching scarcity ride roughshod over our families, organizations, and communities, I'd say the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/after-doing-this-work-or-the-past-twelve-years-and-watching-scarcity/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-halverson/in-the-beginning-the-church-was-a-fellowship-of-men-and-women/) [Richard Halverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-halverson/) > [While doing centering prayer, the practice is to let go of any thought or perception. The priority is to be as silent as possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/while-doing-centering-prayer-the-practice-is-to-let-go-of-any-thought/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [Happiness is self-generated as the mind becomes still. As we become involved with the desires of the world, we lose that centering, that stillness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/happiness-is-self-generated-as-the-mind-becomes-still-as-we-become/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [By centering our lives on timeless, unchanging principles, we create a fundamental paradigm of effective living. It is the center that puts all other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/by-centering-our-lives-on-timeless-unchanging-principles-we-create-a/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [One of the values of centering prayer is that you are not thinking about God during the time of centering prayer so you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-keating/one-of-the-values-of-centering-prayer-is-that-you-are-not-thinking/) [Thomas Keating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-keating/) > [In time, after a dozen years of centering their lives around the games boys play with one another, the boys' bodies change and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/in-time-after-a-dozen-years-of-centering-their-lives-around-the-games/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [“tending to household details is a centering activity equivalent to meditation,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ban-breathnach/tending-to-household-details-is-a-centering-activity-equivalent-to/) [Sarah Ban Breathnach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ban-breathnach/) > [“The sensuality of her grief, thawing. Her power coming into focus, still so chaotic inside her. I love the way she splurged on this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-perez/the-sensuality-of-her-grief-thawing-her-power-coming-into-focus-still/) [Laurie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-perez/) [Browse all 41 Centering quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/centering/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Centering Prayer is an opening, a response, a putting aside of all the debris that stands in the way of our being totally present to the present Lord, so that He can be present to us. It is a laying aside of thoughts, so that the heart can attend immediately to Him. All prayer is a response. 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