Contemplative prayer

[JaredR]

How do you practice contemplative prayer?

 

[MtnDwellar]

I have been told that contemplative prayer is an experience of God’s presence which constitutes an invasion of the soul by a super natural presence.

I may have may achieved that once. I am not sure.

I am interested in more responses.

 

[Bookcat]

How do you practice contemplative prayer?

various ways to define contemplation…and various authentic Catholic schools of Spirituality in this regard.

In general…

There is an ‘acquired contemplation’ …

and ‘infused contemplation’ which is ‘infused by God’.

vatican.va/archive/catechism/p4s1c3a1.htm

Here is a great book…very very good. that will help in regards to mental prayer which can involve contemplative prayer…

frjacquesphilippe.com/books/time_for_god.html

frjacquesphilippe.com/testimonials/interview.html

 

[Bookcat]

One authentic approach to understanding the kinds and developement of prayer a nice systematic overview

domcentral.org/study/aumann/st/st12.htm

 

[Bookcat]

Jacques and Raissa Maritain on infused contemplation

ewtn.net/library/THEOLOGY/LITCOM.HTM#3

ewtn.net/library/THEOLOGY/LITCOM.HTM#5

 

[beckycmarie]

How do you practice contemplative prayer?

Hi Jared,

I see you are just down to a couple short weeks before your entrance into the Church. Congratulations, and you have my prayers!

If what you’re referring to is infused contemplation, there isn’t a technique to acquire it. But there are some things you can do to be disposed to receive it.

The first thing to do is to conform your will to God’s by living the Gospel generously, striving to avoid mortal sin and deliberate venial sin, and committing to daily prayer - especially meditation.

Meditation, when practiced faithfully, can lead to contemplation. But it can take many months, maybe even years of daily meditation before one experiences contemplation.

Below is a simple method for meditation that Fr. Thomas Dubay teaches in Prayer Primer

1. Find a quiet place.

1. Recollection of the presence of God: this does not mean you need to try to “feel” God’s presence; just acknowledge with faith that He is there.

1. (name removed by moderator)ut from Scripture or other spiritual reading.

1. Response: conversing with the Lord about it; adoring, loving, praising, thanking, and sorrowing with inner, quiet words.

1. Resolution: determine to do something specific beginning today about what we have been pondering; resolving to change and grow so that our actions may match our prayer.

Fr. Dubay is my favorite writer and speaker on contemplative prayer. Here are a couple resources you might find helpful:

Fr. Dubay’s Series on Contemplation
This is a series of 13 half-hour talks he did on this topic. You can listen at the link above.

Fire Within
An excellent book on contemplative prayer. You can read much of it at the link above.

 

[Lifeisawesome]

Hi Jared,

I see you are just down to a couple short weeks before your entrance into the Church. Congratulations, and you have my prayers!

If what you’re referring to is infused contemplation, there isn’t a technique to acquire it. But there are some things you can do to be disposed to receive it.

The first thing to do is to conform your will to God’s by living the Gospel generously, striving to avoid mortal sin and deliberate venial sin, and committing to daily prayer - especially meditation.

Meditation, when practiced faithfully, can lead to contemplation. But it can take many months, maybe even years of daily meditation before one experiences contemplation.

Below is a simple method for meditation that Fr. Thomas Dubay teaches in Prayer Primer

This is really great advice and perspective - a solid summary of the teachings of the Church. One key - don’t look for experience - submit yourself to whatever Christ has for you - desert or paradise.

 

[DBT]

Below is a simple method for meditation that Fr. Thomas Dubay teaches in Prayer Primer

1. Find a quiet place.
2. Recollection of the presence of God: this does not mean you need to try to “feel” God’s presence; just acknowledge with faith that He is there.
3. (name removed by moderator)ut from Scripture or other spiritual reading.
4. Response: conversing with the Lord about it; adoring, loving, praising, thanking, and sorrowing with inner, quiet words.
5. Resolution: determine to do something specific beginning today about what we have been pondering; resolving to change and grow so that our actions may match our prayer.

Very nice

Only thing I would add is there “may” come a time, when we are diligent and faithful in our ascetic and prayer practices like you say, that we sense a change in #4. Sometimes our loving “might” go beyond the use of inner words to something more like the simple gaze of “I look at Him and He looks at me.” This kind of Prayer of Simplicity is the “gateway,” in a manner of speaking, where meditation transitions to contemplation. Active prayer gives way to passive prayer.

So it’s important to recognize how our prayer can simplify . . . and not to resist the grace that’s being given. At such times it’s best to let go the meditation and follow where Our Lord is leading. “Being” rather than “doing” is the key.

Fr. Dubay is wonderful describing this transition and the signs for discerning when and how it happens.

Dave

 

[InLight247]

How do you practice contemplative prayer?

JaredR:

I saw the following from our church’s Lent reading - the little black book, www.littlebooks.org
I think it explains contemplation simple and straight, hopefully this is helpful:

People often think that contemplation is reserved just for people in monasteries. The truth is,
contemplation is for all of us, and we probably already do it in some form, although we may not realize it.

Contemplation is wordless prayer - no words at all. Put simply, it is being with God and knowing it.

In contemplation we are not trying to accomplish anything other than letting ourselves be captivated by God. We’re not trying to work through something intellectually. Being with God is enough. It is everything.

God is present within us, around us… right now. Contemplation involves knowing this - becoming aware of it and appreciating it - on the level of the heart. We sense the wonder… greatness… closeness… “realness”… of God. We bask in the luxury of God’s company, like a child on its mother’s lap.

All forms of prayer can lead to contemplation. When this happens, we should stay with it and not think we have to “finish” whatever form of prayer we had begun.

Don’t sell yourself short. Contemplation is within your reach. Enjoy it.

We start with acquired contemplation. The infused is in God’s hands.

 

[JaredR]

Thank you everyone.