Centering Prayer was primarily developed by three Trappist monks at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, in the 1970s:

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• Father Thomas Keating

• Father William Meninger

• Father M. Basil Pennington

 

They sought to create a method of Christian contemplative prayer that was accessible to laypeople, drawing inspiration from ancient Christian mystical traditions, particularly the 14th-century classic The Cloud of Unknowing.

 

The name "Centering Prayer" itself was inspired by Thomas Merton's description of contemplative prayer as being "centered entirely on the presence of God." The quote is specifically cited by Keating, Meninger, and Pennington as the inspiration for the name of their method. While the exact phrasing can be found in various discussions about Merton's work, it most prominently appears in his posthumously published book, "Contemplative Prayer." This book, originally titled "Climate of Monastic Prayer," was a significant work in which Merton articulated his understanding of contemplative life and prayer, drawing from both Western and Eastern mystical traditions.

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In "Contemplative Prayer," Merton emphasizes the deep, non-discursive nature of contemplative prayer, where the focus shifts from active thought and analysis to a simple, loving attentiveness to God's presence within and around us. The idea of being "centered" on God's presence captures this essence of a prayer that is not about words or ideas, but about a direct, experiential communion with the Divine.

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In 1984 Keating, along with Gustave Reininger and Edward Bednar, co-founded Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., an international and ecumenical spiritual network that teaches the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, a method of prayer drawn from the Christian contemplative tradition. Contemplative Outreach provides a support system for those on the contemplative path through a wide variety of resources, workshops, and retreats.