Intimacy With God
Keating
Mike Ervin
Below is a comprehensive
summary of Intimacy with God: An Introduction to Centering Prayer by Father
Thomas Keating,
Quick Overview
Intimacy with God
(Crossroad, 1994; later reprints) is the third major volume in Thomas Keating’s
“Centering Prayer trilogy.” Whereas Open Mind, Open Heart introduced the
practice, and Invitation to Love explored the psychological and spiritual
dynamics of transformation, Intimacy with God emphasizes the theological
foundations and experiential fruits of Centering Prayer. Keating frames the
practice as a way of consenting to God’s presence and action within, deepening
the Christian’s relationship with the Trinity, and preparing the practitioner
for what he calls divine union.
Structure of the Book
The book is divided into
short chapters or essays, each building on aspects of Centering Prayer:
- The meaning of intimacy with God
- Theological basis of contemplative prayer in
Scripture and Christian tradition
- Consent and transformation of consciousness
- The stages of prayer and union (drawing on Teresa
of Ávila, John of the Cross, etc.)
- The fruits of Centering Prayer in daily life and
community
Chapter-by-Chapter
(High-Level Summary)
1. The Human Longing
for God
- Prayer is a response to God’s invitation, not a
technique.
- Centering Prayer is rooted in the human need for
intimacy and union with the divine.
- This longing is universal, though often hidden
beneath distractions and addictions.
2. The Contemplative
Dimension of the Gospel
- Keating shows how the New Testament reveals Jesus
calling his disciples to an inner transformation (e.g., “Go into your
inner room and pray to your Father in secret”).
- The Sermon on the Mount becomes a roadmap for
purification of motives and openness to grace.
3. Consent: The Heart
of Centering Prayer
- Centering Prayer is fundamentally
the act of consent to God’s presence and action within.
- This distinguishes it from
discursive meditation: the focus is not on words or images, but on silent
availability.
- Keating explains the use of the
sacred word as a symbol of this consent.
4. The Dynamics of
Interior Silence
- Silence is not emptiness but receptivity to God’s
presence.
- Psychological material (memories, emotions,
unconscious material) often rises during prayer; this is the “divine
therapy” at work.
- Letting thoughts go is cooperating with
purification.
5. Stages of the
Spiritual Journey
- Keating adapts classical mystics’ descriptions
(e.g., Teresa’s Interior Castle) into a modern psychological-spiritual
map.
- Early stages: purification of the false self,
disidentification with habitual patterns.
- Later stages: infusion of divine love, movement
toward contemplative union.
6. The Fruits of
Centering Prayer
- Over time, the practice fosters:
- Greater compassion and
non-judgment
- Freedom from compulsions
- Humility and gentleness
- A natural sense of God’s
presence throughout the day
- True intimacy with God expresses
itself in love of others and service.
7. The Transforming
Union
- The goal is not extraordinary
experiences but radical inner transformation into Christlikeness.
- Keating stresses that mystical
union is not reserved for a spiritual elite but is God’s desire for all.
8. Community and the
Spiritual Journey
- Centering Prayer is not just personal but
communal; small prayer groups and supportive spiritual friendships are
vital.
- The practice contributes to healing divisions and
fostering reconciliation within the larger church.
Major Themes and Insights
- Prayer as Relationship – True
prayer is about intimacy with God, not achieving experiences or solving
problems.
- Consent and Surrender – The
sacred word symbolizes letting go of self-control and allowing God to act
at the deepest levels.
- Healing of the Unconscious –
Centering Prayer allows repressed material to surface, leading to inner
freedom.
- Integration with Tradition –
Keating grounds the practice in Scripture and the writings of the mystics
(e.g., John of the Cross, Teresa of Ávila, The Cloud of Unknowing).
- Transformation into Love – The
test of authentic prayer is a life of compassion, forgiveness, and
service.
Practical Elements in the
Book
- Clear, simple instructions for
Centering Prayer practice (sacred word, sitting in silence, handling
distractions).
- Pastoral encouragement for
handling difficulties (e.g., boredom, restlessness, painful memories).
- Integration into daily life:
short “mini-prayers” of consent throughout the day.
- The importance of balance:
combining Centering Prayer with Lectio Divina, Eucharist, and acts of
service.
Tone, Style, and Audience
- Tone: Gentle, pastoral, and
invitational, with a balance of theology and psychological insight.
- Audience: Christians seeking a
deeper prayer life, those already practicing Centering Prayer, and
spiritual directors guiding others on the contemplative path.
Strengths and Limitations
Strengths
- Accessible yet profound - offers
both theological grounding and practical instructions.
- Connects ancient mystical
tradition with modern psychological language.
- Provides encouragement for those
experiencing inner upheavals during prayer.
Limitations
- Written primarily from a
Christian theological perspective; non-Christian practitioners may need to
adapt language.
- Readers seeking a more academic
or historical treatment of contemplation may find the pastoral tone too
simple.
Practical Takeaways
- Centering Prayer = relationship,
not technique - the heart is consent, not control.
- Silence heals - trust the process
when psychological material arises.
- Daily practice - 20 minutes twice
a day is recommended, supplemented by short moments of interior consent
during the day.
- Transformation shows in love - the authenticity of intimacy with God is tested in compassion and service.
Place in Keating’s Trilogy
- Open Mind, Open Heart - Introduction to the method of Centering Prayer.
- Invitation to Love - Exploration
of the psychological -spiritual dynamics of transformation.
- Intimacy with God - Theological
and experiential fruits of the practice, with a strong focus on
relationship with God.
Together, these three
books form a complete framework: method → process → fruits.
Intimacy With God