Tears During Centering Prayer

 

Q: Sometimes during Centering Prayer, an emotional pain comes up that causes me to cry from a deep level.  Is this Divine Therapy or is it the “emotionality” teachers tell us to avoid?

A: What I hear in your question is that mysterious, grace-filled Divine Therapy that opens our hearts on levels deeper than conscious thought. I don’t consider this emotionality. I, personally, often experience tears during the time of prayer. But they don’t last after the prayer time and I usually give them little attention (just ever-so-gently return to the sacred symbol). I remember Fr. Thomas sharing that often in earlier times, the gift of tears was prayed for because it softened one’s heart.

Hope this helps.

Many blessings,
Mary Dwyer
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You may wish to read a related Q&A here.