A new edition of the classic that helped launch the Centering Prayer movement.Centering Prayer is a precious part of the ancient spiritual traditions of the West. When Finding Grace at the Center was first published in 1978, people all over the world welcomed this practical guide to a simple and beautiful form of meditative prayer. Reflections and advice on Centering Prayer’s possibilities—and its pitfalls—are presented with clarity and simplicity, with a ...

Discover how to listen for God's "voice" as you read the Holy Scriptures.This new series of books is designed to open up the meaning of one ancient way of Christian prayer in a relatively short amount of time. In Praying the Holy Scriptures, the late Father Pennington:* Briefly introduces "Three Steps to Daily Lectio"* Offers profound reflections of "Waiting on the Lord" and how to "Use Our Imaginations" in prayer* Presents ten examples of doing these t...

**Everyone’s talking about “community” these days. Arnold and Merton say it can be lived, too.In this time-honored manifesto,** Arnold and Merton add their voices to the vital discussion of what real community is all about: love, joy, unity, and the great “adventure of faith” shared with others along the way. Neither writer describes (or prescribes) community here, but they do provide a vision to guide our search.For both the uninitiated seeker and the veteran,

Let Your Deepest Soul Rejoice!"You are the Beloved of the Divine Lover. You are loved with a love beyond that which human words can express, which song and pen seek in some way to convey or at least hint at. Let go. Let the currents of love invade you. Let your deepest soul rejoice.…"—from the PrefaceIn the tradition of Christian mysticism, including Bernard of Clairvaux, Gregory the Great, and Ambrose of Milan, M. Basil Pennington shares his reflect...

Let the Psalms help you forge a deeper connection to the Divine.Showing how the Psalms give profound and candid expression to both our highest aspirations and our deepest pain, the late, highly respected Cistercian Abbot M. Basil Pennington shares his reflections on some of the most beloved passages from the Bible’s most widely read book. In this companion volume to The Song of Songs: A Spiritual Commentary, Pennington is once again joined by Jewish artist...

Discover the rich spirituality of monastic life on Mount Athosa place like no other on earth.Twenty-five years ago, M. Basil Pennington, OCSO, was the first Western monk to live on Mount Athos for more than the usually permitted overnight visit. The Monks of Mount Athos chronicles his extraordinary stay, his experiences of the East, and lively conversations with his hosts about theological differences and unfamiliar spiritual practices.Liste...

A Personal Growth Finalist in the 2004 Word Guild Canadian Writing Awards"Only God deserves absolute surrender because only God can offer absolutely dependable love."In our self-reliant era, most of us recoil from the concept of surrendering to a power or authority outside ourselves. But surrender need not be seen as threatening, especially when the One to whom we surrender is the epitome of goodness and love. God doesn't want his people to respond to him out of fear o...

Embark on the Spiritual Journey of Knowing Your True Self"Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know thee." —AugustineMuch is said in Christian circles about knowing God. But what if thereis also value in knowing yourself? Christians throughout the ages have agreed that there cannot be deep knowledge of God without deep knowledge of the self. Discerning your true self is inextricably related to discerning God's purposes fo...

Lectio divina is "letting our Divine Friend speak to us through his inspired and inspiring Word," according to M. Basil Pennington, the late priest, retreat master, and prominent lecturer in the Centering Prayer movement. This ancient Christian practice requires faith, humility, openness, and fidelity. Father Pennington sets the process of praying the Scriptures in the context of meditation, contemplation, compassion, and action. He calls it "a way of friendship" wherein we pay attention t...

Connecting his own powerful spirituality with the humanism of de Chardin and the contemplative wisdom of Merton, Pennington deftly uncovers the direct route to happiness and peace our age so desperately seeks. M. Basil Pennington is a Trappist monk at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, and the author of Lectio Divina and Living in the Question. In this brief but illuminating work, Pennington sheds light on the spiritual practice of transformation, which for Christians comes unde...

This book demonstrates how the peace and serenity found inside an abbey can be achieved despite the hustle and bustle of today's outside world. A leading American spiritual writer and Trappist monk, Father M. Basil Pennington shows how, step by step, the spirituality of monasticism can be adapted for use in daily life.Paperback

Offering reflections based on Scripture on each of the twenty mysteries--the newest, the Mysteries of Light, are included--Father M. Basil Pennington brings to those who pray the rosary a deeper experience of the mysteries and their many treasures. For those new to the rosary, this book includes the rosary prayers, step-by-step instructions on how to pray the rosary, and insight into the historical time and place of each mystery.Paperback