The Welcoming Prayer

WELCOMING PRAYER GUIDELINES

The Welcoming Prayer can be used whenever we experience difficult or negative feelings, emotions, persons, conditions or situations in our everyday lives.  It is a way to experience and carry the fruits of our centering prayer practice into our lives.

We simply become aware of our body.  We notice our body's weight on our  chair.  We become aware of what we are feeling physically and emotionally. We scan our body to notice where we are holding these emotions or sensations.

1) We gently and slowly repeat:

 "Welcome, welcome, welcome" a few times.

2) When fully present we continue with: 

"I welcome everything that comes to me in this moment because I know it is for my healing.

3) We pause for a moment or two and continue: 

"I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions."

and 4) When ready we continue and pause whenever we are inclined to do so:

"I let go of my desire for security and survival.

I let go of my desire for affection, esteem and approval.

I let go of my desire for power and control.

I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person, or myself.

I open to the desire of the Holy Spirit and God's healing presence and action within."

When we are finished we end our prayer period with our own expression of gratitude, love, hope, faith or simply rest in silence in God's presence.

For further information, you may follow this link to a page on the Contemplative Outreach International webpage.  This page has 1)  similar description of the practice outlined above; 2) a link to an online article about Welcoming Prayer; 3) a link to download a brochure about this practice;  4) a link to download an audio file of a teleconference with Fr Thomas Keating and Gail Fitzpatrick-Hopler; and more.