Liturgy for Centering Prayer

If this is your first introduction to Centering Prayer, Boy, have you got a treat in store for you. It's like nothing you've ever seen before.

That's because it's all about mysticism...."What's that?" ya' say?...Nothing less than the search for the divine, that's what! Some folks even say it's "diving union" that waits for ya' at the end of the mystical rainbow. I prefer "divine love" myself. That way it don't go to your head, leastwise not straight away. Here, listen to Fr. Keating. He's the one stirrin' up all the fuss 'round here.
Ultimately, divine love becomes the source of one's conscious life and activity. "I" or "me" is no longer the center of motivation. Christ manifests himself in and through one's tranformed human nature.
Fr. Thomas Keating, p. 162
"The Charismatic Renewal"
Intimacy with God, 2009
Don't get me wrong now. This here liturgy's not gonna emancipate that inner Christ of yours on the very first try. Oh, no, not by a long shot. But if it don't make ya' want to shake His hand, I'm a monkey's uncle!...Oh yeah, that's right. I guess I am!...Anyway, it'll get ya' goin' in the right direction all right.

No, it's not Father Keating in the flesh, I grant you. Heck, it's not even Father O'Flannery back home, God rest his soul, but it comes mighty close. I can almost hear 'im now, mumblin' to himself in Heaven, "Well, I'll be dang. What'll they be a'thinkin' of next?" and all the time dancin' an Irish jig that'd charm the very soles off your shoes even if ya' weren't wearin' any socks! That's because it's poetry, sheer poetry, poetry like only the Irish can write, poetry with the music of the waves in it, soul-shakin', fiddle-playin', music-makin' poetry, by God!

On top o' all that, the images are prints like ya' seen in them fancy galleries back home, only laminated on both sides so they stand up to constant wear without getting all mangled and torn. Even the wee hands of children, sticky candy and all, won't do 'em no harm. All ya' have to do is wipe 'em down with a damp cloth and dry 'em off. They'll be good as new. That way ya' can use 'em over and over again (like I know ya' would anyway). Only this time no one'll know!

Front:

Liturgy for Centering Prayer
"Liturgy for Centering Prayer" cc-by Jim Whiteside (2011)

Back:

The True Self
"The True Self" by Jim Whiteside © 2010

What's that, ya' say?...Ya' still askin' 'bout Centering Prayer? Goodness, Lass! Where 'ave ya' been? That's the mystical branch of the Holy Mother Church Herself! The limb for the lay anyway. It's not too late, though. Get yourself down to Contemplative Outreach and find yourself a local branch to join, ya' hear? That's the only way ya' ever gonna get to Heaven anyway...leastwise on this side of the grave!

For all you other folk, why don't ya' order some of these Heaven-sent services for your Centering Prayer group? Ya' could even frame one for the wall. Or put one up at home in your prayer room. What's that, ya' say?...Well, make one, for goodness sake! Heck, ya' could even give one to a friend. It'll touch their heart, I can tell ya' that, but then ya'd have to read one to see why.

Here, let me show ya'. There's this line in it, see, that says, "I give my heart to Thee." It brings a wee tear to me eye even thinkin' 'bout it. Aye, it does! That's because ya' have to touch your heart at the same time ya' make the sign of the cross. Once you've done it, it'll never be the same for ya'. It's a Heavenly thing, I can tell ya' that. Better watch out, though. Next thing ya' know, ya'll be out on the street washing the feet of strangers!

Ya' wanna know another secret? Come mere. I don't rightly know how to say this proper, what with the authorities breathin' down me neck all the time, but this here liturgy will do more to 'gender a sense of intimacy among your members than a thousand potluck suppers! There, I said it. "Intimacy, intimacy, intimacy!"...and I'm not taking it back either. Ya' talk about love. Ya' just follow the protocol and see what happens. If you don't have people lovin' all over each other within a few weeks, I'll pack my bags and go back to Ireland on the next rainbow!

Enough of me blabberin'. Order some of the blarney things and see for yourself. Better yet, order the sample pack and see all the options at once. That's the only way to know for sure.

The Liturgy Sample-Pack$36

It includes...

  1. The Liturgy for Centering Prayer
    1. The laminated version
    2. With matching sacred-readings
  2. The Liturgy of the Soul
    1. On card stock
    2. With matching sacred-readings
  3. The Rainbow Liturgy
    1. On coated paper
    2. With matching sacred-readings

All ya' have to do is write me—"The Leprechaun"—through Jim Whiteside at jimwhiteside@hotmail.com. He's the only one 'round here tall enough to reach them blame computers!

Prices

Number Ordered
Coated Paper
(32 lb.)

Card Stock
(80 lb.)
The
Laminated Version
5 $27 $40 $60
10 $40 $60 $90
25 $66 $100 $150
50 $110 $170 $250
100 $200 $300 $450
250 $440 $660 $1,000
500 $800 $1,200 $1,800
1000 $1,460 $2,200 $3,300
Me special recommendations: "Coated Paper" is all you need if you're gonna let people take 'em home, but if you plan on reusing 'em occasionally, you better get "Card Stock." For frequent use, there's nothing like the laminated version. Even the wee ones can't mess 'em up much...and, Boy, do they pop!

I've even got one up on tha wall in me wee tree out back. Used double-stick tape from the shippin' department to make it stay. Don't tell the boss, though. He'd have me head on a silver platter, just like Salome in the Bible!

If ya' order now, I'll even throw in some sacred readings to get ya' started. Those are read before and after centering prayer. They're supposed to change every time ya' do the liturgy. That way there's always something new and exciting going on.

Sacred readings for the Liturgy for Centering Prayer
Sacred readings for the "Liturgy for Centering Prayer"

In other words, you get to choose what to read wherever the liturgy says "sacred reading." These'll just get you started and give ya' an idea of how to match the readings to the litury. Besides, they're fun!
Hope you enjoy it,
the leprechaun
P.S. To place an order, just click on me name above.

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