Any tips on mental prayer?

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Hi. I want to progressively take my prayer life a step beyond. I know this means that I must engage in mental prayer to some extent, aside from trying to pray the Rosary or to make some spontaneous prayer.

But, once I make some silence and read some Bible passage… what should I do? I observe that I just can’t stop “talking” in my mind, even if I’m trying to think about the passage. Is that considered a valid form of mental prayer? Is there a “standard method”? Could you give me any practical tips?

Thank you!
 
Usually i pray my rosary while i clean my house or do some activity that does not require much thinking, not only it help me work better but it feels like time goes faster, the rosary goes faster than if was kneeling.
 
Hello, @kikiki32 have you tried Lectio Divina?

Ascension Presents have a video or two on it.
I think it’s where you sit with a scene of scripture and contemplate it and imagine you are there witnessing it first hand with all the sights, sounds, smells etc. I don’t do it often myself but want to try it a bit more 🙂
 
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Mental prayer is not something you do like deciding to drive somewhere. It is more like deciding to learn an instrument. At first, you will be distracted, unable to think of anything appropriate etc.

But if you do it regularly, you will improve.
 
I often pray my morning prayers silently out of respect for the rest of my household that doesn’t like to get up as early as I do. However, I often struggle with distraction or mind-wandering (or just sleepiness, if it was a “short night”). Someone on here recommended mouthing the words or whispering the prayers, and that certainly has helped my focus. I’m wondering if that might be a helpful stepping stone with respect to the advice from @Annie above.
kikiki32 said:
once I make some silence and read some Bible passage… what should I do? I observe that I just can’t stop “talking” in my mind, even if I’m trying to think about the passage.
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I think anytime your mind is engaged on our Lord and our extended holy family above, you’re in mental prayer - even if you’re just mentally repeating a passage to yourself.
 
That strikes me as a very “Benedictine” approach 😁 Ora et labora
 
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Mental Prayer as St Teresa of Avila taught it, is being aware of just who it is you are praying to, when you pray and that His presences is within you at all times.

It doesn’t matter if you’re praying the Rosary or Meditating, being aware of God’s presence is all that matters. Also, as St Teresa said, when the King comes he brings his court, the Queen of Heaven and the Saints.

Lastly, Quiet Prayer, or Contemplative Prayer will bring you deeper toward interior prayer, where St Teresa said God speaks to us best.
 
Thank you everyone.

@LeonardoArruda That’s a good idea and I sometimes pray the Rosary when I’m cooking or going for a walk. But I lose concentration very easily when praying that way, which makes me wonder if it’s a correct approach or not…

@truthseeker I’ll search for those videos. I’ve tried sometimes to do something of the sort. But I’m not sure if I should actively use my imagination and place myself into the scene or just reflect on what the scene means to me (e.g.: should I imagine the Annunciation or should I just reflect on Mary’s humility?).

@Annie As someone who plays the piano and the violin I find your metaphor really interesting. I had never thought of prayer that way. Instruments require perseverance and can be frustrating. But they’re very rewarding. And they help us elevate our souls to God when we start forgetting about technique and focusing on music. It’s truly a good analogy…

@Cor_ad_Cor I struggle with poor concentration and sleepiness many days due to migraines. On such days, praying is difficult (as is everything else). But on good days, my mind also wanders very easily. Maybe what I mentioned in the op is also a basic form of prayer, but I just won’t “shut up” and listen to God!

@JimR-OCDS That’s a beautiful and simple way of understanding prayer. I don’t know much about prayer, but that God has instilled in the depth of my soul a thirst for Him, and a willingness to grasp at some time in my life that quiet, contemplative prayer you mention at the end.
 
Praying and working or praying while kneeling are 2 ways of praying the rosary, see what is better for you, but know that both ways are easy to get distracted.
 
@kikiki32

Whilst imagining being in the scene of the Annunciation, you can focus on Mary’s humility, as well as any other virtues you picture she exhibits in that moment then you can pray for and strive for those virtues to increase in your own personal daily life.
 
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