What Is Christian Meditation? - A Simple Introduction
A simple introduction for Western readers
Christian meditation is simply prayer with your whole attention—a way of being with God rather than only thinking about God. In the Christian tradition, meditation is not an escape from reality or a technique to manufacture calm. It’s a practice of loving awareness: turning toward Christ, Scripture, or God’s indwelling presence with steadiness of heart. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes meditation as engaging thought, imagination, emotion, and desire in order to deepen faith and move toward union with the Lord. [1]
Many Westerners assume meditation is “Eastern,” partly because the word often gets paired with Buddhism or yoga in popular culture. But contemplative and meditative prayer is intrinsic to Western Christianity—woven through monastic life, the mystics, and ordinary devotional practice for centuries.
Meditation has deep Western Christian roots
Here are some long-standing Christian forms of contemplative prayer that align closely with contemporary meditation practices:
Lectio Divina (sacred reading): a slow, prayerful way of reading Scripture that moves from reading → reflecting → praying → resting in God. [2]
The Jesus Prayer / Hesychast tradition: a practice of interior stillness and repeated prayer aimed at unceasing prayer and inner watchfulness. [3]
The Western contemplative path (e.g., The Cloud of Unknowing): emphasizes knowing God not by analysis but by love—releasing compulsive thought to rest in God beyond concepts. [4]
Centering Prayer: a receptive, silent prayer using a “sacred word” as a gentle way to return to consent to God’s presence and action within. [5]
Christian mantra meditation (John Main / WCCM): repeating a simple prayer-word with faithful attention. [6]
A simple way to begin (very Western, very Christian)
Try this for five minutes:
Sit comfortably. Relax your shoulders.
Breathe naturally.
Choose a brief prayer phrase (for example: “Jesus,” “Yahweh,” “Abba,” “Come, Holy Spirit,” or “I am here”).
When your mind wanders (and it will), return gently—no self-scolding.
Close with a sentence of gratitude.
If you want a scriptural doorway into this, many Christians have leaned on the invitation: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). [7]
If you share your background (Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or simply curious) and what you’re hoping meditation will cultivate (peace, attentiveness, intimacy with God, healing), it becomes easier to recommend a tradition and a gentle starting practice.
References
[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church — “Meditation”. Vatican.va.
[2] Benedict XVI on lectio divina (speech). Vatican.va.
[3] The Jesus Prayer. Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
[4] The Cloud of Unknowing (overview). Wikipedia.
[5] Centering Prayer method. Contemplative Outreach.
[6] How to meditate. World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM).
To help sustain the rhythm of your breathing, we invite you to download the Practicing Presence mobile app. Use it to set the hourly reminders that will ground you throughout your day. Set hourly reminders. Nothing more is required. Presence takes care of the rest.
The Practice of Presence is a spiritual discipline focused on bringing stillness into daily life to break the cycle of unconscious negativity. By slowing down the inner dialogue, individuals can move from simply believing in God's presence to experiencing it as a vibrant inner reality. This donation will support Illuman in creating the sacred spaces where men can practice this stillness together.
The Choosing Presence Project provides resources, including a primary text by Jim Heaney and the "Practicing Presence" mobile app, to help individuals cultivate a rhythm of meditation and centering. Based on Christian contemplative traditions, the project emphasizes "living your way into a new way of being" through the experience of stillness.
Illuman is a community of men who are seeking a life, not just for themselves, but for the world. Founded on the work of Fr. Richard Rohr, Illuman offers honest, authentic conversations and shared experiences to help men find strength, healing, and clarity through the "Journey of Illumination."
Brian Mueller, Choosing Presence Director of Education & Engagement
