God is Love: The Heart of All Creation

Keating, Thomas: - Father Thomas Keating was a Trappist monk, priest, and one of the principal architects of the Centering Prayer movement, which revitalized the Christian contemplative tradition for contemporary seekers. Born in New York City in 1923, Keating pursued studies at Yale University and Fordham University before entering the Cistercian Order in 1944. He was ordained a priest in 1949.

In the 1970s, while serving as abbot of St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, Keating, alongside fellow monks Fathers William Meninger and Basil Pennington, developed Centering Prayer-a method inspired by the 14th-century spiritual classic *The Cloud of Unknowing*. This practice emphasizes silent, wordless prayer as a means of consenting to God's presence and action within.

To support and disseminate this contemplative practice, Keating co-founded Contemplative Outreach in 1984, an international organization dedicated to teaching Centering Prayer and fostering spiritual growth. His commitment to interfaith dialogue led him to engage with spiritual leaders across traditions, promoting a universal message of inner transformation and unity.

A prolific author, Keating's works include Open Mind, Open Heart, Invitation to Love, and The Human Condition, among others. His teachings continue to guide individuals seeking a deeper relationship with the Divine through the path of contemplative silence. Father Thomas Keating passed away on October 25, 2018, at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire spiritual practitioners worldwide.