 One form of this prayer has one meditate on a single, sacred word to draw the believer closer to God by withdrawing compulsive infatuation with particular sensory objects and conceptual constructions.This practice was prominent in Catholic practice (at least) as early as the 13th century, as evinced by works such as "The Cloud of Unknowing" – written anonymously in Middle English by a Catholic monastic.Benedictine spirituality is characterized by striving towards Christian perfection in community, liturgical prayer, and separation from worldly concerns.