Here’s a comprehensive narrative summary of Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form by M. Basil Pennington, written in a way that reads like a story rather than a textbook explanation:
From the first page of Centering Prayer, the reader is invited into a journey — not just through instructions on how to pray, but into the heart of a timeless spiritual quest. Basil Pennington, a Trappist monk deeply rooted in the Christian contemplative tradition, begins not with technical language but with a question that has echoed through the ages: What does it mean to truly encounter God in the stillness of the heart? In answering this, he offers more than a method — he offers a path toward intimacy with God.
Pennington sets out by reminding us that prayer, at its deepest level, is not just about speaking or thinking but about being with God. He draws on the ancient wisdom of the early Church and the monks of old, weaving together threads from Eastern Christian practices and the mystical writings of early contemplatives. This deep historical grounding reveals that the longing to be united with God is as old as Christianity itself. Throughout the book, Pennington situates Centering Prayer within this larger history, showing that what he offers is a renewal of a lost art of silent communion.
As the narrative unfolds, Pennington gently transitions from theory to practice. He describes the common struggle of modern Christians: the sincere desire to pray paired with the frustration of distraction, restlessness, and inner noise. Instead of chastising these challenges, he honors them as part of the human condition. With compassion, he invites the reader to sit, to relax, and to open the heart, teaching that prayer isn’t about achieving a perfect state of mind but consenting — with simplicity and humility — to God’s presence and action within. Pennington explains that this surrender begins with the use of a sacred word, one chosen as a symbol of the prayerer’s intention to be receptive to God. Whether it be “Jesus,” “Abba,” “peace,” or another word that resonates, this gentle focus serves as an anchor in the midst of wandering thoughts.
What makes the narrative of Centering Prayer compelling is how it transforms prayer from a task into a relationship. Pennington describes moments where the core of one’s being — the true self that is deepest and most real — meets the divine presence. He frames the journey not as an escape from the world but as a deepening immersion into its sacredness through the presence of God. His tone remains humble: he neither promises mystical experiences nor denies them; rather he escorts the reader into an expectant yet patient openness to grace.
Interspersed with practical guidance, Pennington also invites the reader into reflection on obstacles that can arise: distractions, inner pain, emotional turbulence, and the temptation to judge oneself for not “doing it right.” In his narrative, every difficulty becomes an opportunity to return again and again to the sacred word — a metaphor for returning to God. This repeated return becomes not just a technique but a rhythm of spiritual life.
Toward the close of the book, Pennington weaves his teaching into the broader tapestry of Christian life. He reminds his readers that Centering Prayer does not replace other forms of prayer or devotion. Instead, it deepens them. It complements scripture, liturgy, and daily Christian discipleship by cultivating a heart that listens more fully and loves more freely. He paints a picture of transformation: as one practices silent surrender, the fruits of the Spirit — love, peace, patience — begin to emerge organically, not through self-effort but through receptive union with God.
In the end, Centering Prayer reads like both a guidebook and a love story — the story of a soul’s gradual awakening to the whisper of the Divine. Pennington’s narrative carries the reader from the surface level of words and technique into the heart of contemplative prayer, where the deepest longing of humanity meets the unbounded love of God.