An Easy Way To Meditate!

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Dear friends

A meditation for those who’d like to cast their eye at it.
An Easy Way To Meditate!
By the late Father Kilian McGowan, C.P. Used with permission, from the Passionist Priests, to help spiritually guide the layman.

Prayer is life in miniature. Because life is a quest for God, and prayer is seeking God in earnest. It is also one of the quickest and most effective ways of regaining tranquility of spirit and refreshment of heart. Meditation, or interior conversation with our Lord, is truly the pause that refreshes. Therefore, it is essential to the make-up of even our busiest days.

**Essentially, meditation is quite simple. It consists of thoughts that are productive of conversation with Christ. Not that it comes easy to our minds and hearts, which at times are as undisciplined as errant playboy, but the more we saturate our minds and memories with the thoughts of Christ, the more easily this conversation follows. **

In prayer, a simple method-or framework for your conversation with Christ-can be a lifesaver when devotion seems to have dried up, or when you are plagued by weariness or distractions.

1) GETTING READY. You don’t plunge into a prayer as you dive into a pool of water. You have to take a firm hold of your memory, mind and heart before you can fix them on God in prayer. You place yourself in God’s Presence by resolutely and generously turning your memory and mind toward Him. Do it as though it’s the most important action of your career.

2) HAVE SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT. The subject of your prayer is not the conversation itself, but it does supply the matter for your conversation. A firm foundation is laid for a fervent spiritual life by serious reflection on the meaning of life and the eternal truths. After that, immerse yourself in the study of life, the thoughts and words, the actions and mysteries of our Blessed Lord. You need the mind of Christ before you can imitate His divine manner of living and suffering. The Gospels, your own memory, or a good spiritual reading book can supply this material.

3) BEING ATTENTIVE TO GOD. Throughout your prayerful reflection strive to keep in contact with our Blessed Lord. Take a scene form the life of our Lord. Ask yourself: What is He doing or saying? Why does He tell me this-or suffer like this for me? What does He expect of me? What should I do about it? What can I do for Him?

St. Theresa adds: "The progress of the soul does not consist in thinking much of God, but in loving Him ardently; and this love is gained by resolving to do a great deal for Him."

4) LETTING YOUR HEART SPEAK. Your reflections on the life, words or deeds of our Lord should ignite a flame in your heart. It then bursts forth in acts or affections, as they are called. These are movements of your heart reaching out and drawing near to God. Your soul will speak to God with acts of adoration and thanksgiving, with acts of petition and love. This is the very heart of your conversation.

Make these acts simple and short. Let them be unhurried and repeated. A simple movement of your soul can unite you with your God. Don’t rush from one act to another…or try for a record in quantity. Above all, aim at acts of love of God which increase merit, remove sin, increase friendship with Christ, and unite your heart immediately to God.

5) CONCLUDING THE CONVERSATION. This conclusion is helpful, but not essential. Thank our Lord for this audience. Ask His assistance for wherever you need special help. Make a firm resolution, too, to remove whatever obstacle hinders this daily contact with the Wisdom and Love of God.

St. Theresa of Avila sums up all the above in one of her pithy paragraphs: “If we can we should occupy ourselves in looking at Him who is looking at us. Keep Him company. Talk to Him. Humble yourselves before Him. Find your delight in Him. Anyone can do this, even though he be a beginner at prayer and will derive great benefit from it.” Why not try and find out for yourself!

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God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa
 
Thank you, Springbreeze. I found it a useful summary. Here’s something I started working on yesterday, but don’t have time to finish. I put it in the form of an interview with St Teresa of Avila:

B: St Teresa, what is mental prayer?

T: Prayer is an exercise of love. (Life, 7.12). Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends. It means taking the time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us. (Life 8.5).

B: How did you first learn how to pray?

T: An uncle of mine who lived along the road gave me a book. It is called The Third Spiritual Alphabet and endeavors to teach the prayer of recollection. (Life 4.6)

B: And what do we mean by “prayer of recollection”?

T: This prayer is called “recollection” because the soul collects its faculties together and enters within itself to be with God. (Way, 28.4). We must disengage ourselves from everything so as to approach God interiorly. (Way 29.5).

B: Was this difficult?

T: Very often, for some years, I was more anxious that the hour I had determined to spend in prayer be over than to remain there, and more anxious to listen for the striking of the clock than to attend to other good things. (Life, 8.7).

B: And what happens if, despite these difficulties, one continues to pray like this?

T: The soul begins to be recollected and comes upon something supernatural because in no way can it acquire this prayer through any efforts it may make. (Life 14.2).

B: Finally, St Teresa, what do you say those who do not pray?

T: Whoever has not yet begun the practice of prayer, I beg for the love of the Lord not to go without so great a good. (Life, 8.5).
 
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buzzcut:
Thank you, Springbreeze. I found it a useful summary. Here’s something I started working on yesterday, but don’t have time to finish. I put it in the form of an interview with St Teresa of Avila:

B: St Teresa, what is mental prayer?

T: Prayer is an exercise of love. (Life, 7.12). Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends. It means taking the time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us. (Life 8.5).

B: How did you first learn how to pray?

T: An uncle of mine who lived along the road gave me a book. It is called The Third Spiritual Alphabet and endeavors to teach the prayer of recollection. (Life 4.6)

B: And what do we mean by “prayer of recollection”?

T: This prayer is called “recollection” because the soul collects its faculties together and enters within itself to be with God. (Way, 28.4). We must disengage ourselves from everything so as to approach God interiorly. (Way 29.5).

B: Was this difficult?

T: Very often, for some years, I was more anxious that the hour I had determined to spend in prayer be over than to remain there, and more anxious to listen for the striking of the clock than to attend to other good things. (Life, 8.7).

B: And what happens if, despite these difficulties, one continues to pray like this?

T: The soul begins to be recollected and comes upon something supernatural because in no way can it acquire this prayer through any efforts it may make. (Life 14.2).

B: Finally, St Teresa, what do you say those who do not pray?

T: Whoever has not yet begun the practice of prayer, I beg for the love of the Lord not to go without so great a good. (Life, 8.5).
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Dear Buzzcut

That’s a cracking idea! A brilliant style and a good inspiration, it has to be from the Holy Spirit!

I’m praying to God that He grants you the time to finish it, I hope you write more and more and I hope whatever you do write you post up here for everyone to read and reap benefit from.

I hope you write a book and call it ‘An Interview with St Teresa of Avila’

Thank you very much Buzzcut.

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa
 
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springbreeze:
Dear Buzzcut

That’s a cracking idea! A brilliant style and a good inspiration, it has to be from the Holy Spirit!

I’m praying to God that He grants you the time to finish it, I hope you write more and more and I hope whatever you do write you post up here for everyone to read and reap benefit from.

I hope you write a book and call it ‘An Interview with St Teresa of Avila’

Thank you very much Buzzcut.

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa
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I’ll echo that!

I enjoyed your post very much Buzz. Good to see you around here again.

Dave.
 
St. Theresa of Avila sums up all the above in one of her pithy paragraphs: “If we can we should occupy ourselves in looking at Him who is looking at us. Keep Him company. Talk to Him. Humble yourselves before Him. Find your delight in Him. Anyone can do this, even though he be a beginner at prayer and will derive great benefit from it.” Why not try and find out for yourself!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God Bless you and much love and peace to you

Teresa

**St. Teresa of Avila…What a woman! **

Has anyone out there read any of her works? I especially like “The Way of Perfection”, and have also read “The Interior Castle” and some other things…I have her complete works.
 
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