How to advance towards contemplative prayer?

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Hi. I feel called to intimacy with God, although I’m still a beginner in prayer life.

How can I advance towards contemplation?

How can I get inner recollection and maintain it through a busy day?

How can I transform my life in a constant and continuous prayer?

Thank you very much.
 
Set aside at least one part of the day, 15 minutes to an hour, for meditation leading to contemplation. The rest will flow from that dedicated time. It is a process, and will take time.
A couple books that have helped me: The Cloud of Unknowing; The Practice of the Presence of God. Thomas Merton’s What is Contemplation? is a good manual to understand what contemplation is.
 
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Contemplative prayer is so wonderful yet it is quite difficult. You will get distracted during this but do not feel discouraged. Many saints were even distracted in prayer!

I think the best experience I had with contemplative prayer is when I said to God “let me see myself how you see me. And to feel how much you love me.” I felt such overwhelming joy it was wonderful. And I just sat in that feeling.

I also had a nice experience with contemplative prayer the other day when I went on a walk in a nearby trail. I think that it is very good for the soul to spend some time in nature, admiring the beauty God created.

:pray:t2:
 
That’s a great experience. Would you mind describing it a little more profoundly?

Nature is great. Although I like cities, being in the nature reminds me of God, and very specially contemplating the sea, which must be one of my favourite parts of Creation.
 
Sure. The first experienced I mentioned was at a time when I was really down. Feeling unworthy. I was so broken down that I just surrender to God. I believe he truly let me feel how much he loves me in order to get me out of that funk. I just sat in that feeling for awhile.

And yes nature is so wonderful. It is good to escape from the city sometimes to clear your mind. The ocean is beautiful 🙂

I think the trick to contemplative prayer is to not focus too much on “thinking” and trying to force something. Just try to feel and think in a way that flows if that makes any sense. It takes practice!! You could try to look up some Catholic meditations to get into the mindset of being able to do that.
 
Fr Phillipe’s book “Time For God” is the best I have read on the topic.
 
Remember to not get discouraged when you are distracted by other thoughts. Just calmly bring yourself back to your prayer. That shows that you are putting God first.

It may happen many times during 15 minutes of prayer-time with the Lord, or a rosary.
But, what counts is when you are aware of the distraction is to just bring yourself back gently to your prayer.

This was very helpful advice to me from a Carmelite priest who gave Days of Prayer and spiritual direction, including Mass, once a month for many years when I lived up north.
His direction was from the Carmelite Doctors of the Church on prayer.

Scripture says “pray always”…there are many ways to pray, even when we are concentrating on something else…we can offer it up for the glory of the Lord.
 
Thank you for all your replies.

@MeganCecilia Thank you for taking the time and elaborating a bit more on your experience. It’s wonderful. I only felt something alike once in my childhood. I clearly remember it. It made a huge impression in my soul, and many years later I consider this moment the one in which I learned God is true. I miss that intimacy with God, and want to search it, because I ‘tasted’ a little bit of God that day, and I haven’t found (and won’t find) anything better than God Himself.

@TheLittleLady Thank you for the reference.

@Dorothy Thank you for your advice. I’ll try to remember it when distractions come.

@Shakuhachi Silence is a little bit of a struggle in my life. I mostly have outside silence, and can maintain it at my work environment or at home. I like both to listen and play classical music, but except for those moments, I am mostly surrounded by silence. Inner silence is a different thing though. I have many distractions (the internet sucks more time than it should) and I’m more anxious than I’d like to be. I also tend to have music playing in my head, although it’s usually classical and can be ‘tamed’. I can reach some degree of recollection after a good while and some effort. And when in complete silence, I don’t really know what to do or feel completely comfortable.
 
I miss that intimacy with God
I’m so glad you have already had that experience with God. And, you are going to get that again!! Be patient and be kind to yourself during this time. You are going to grow in all your ways of prayer and find that you are getting even closer to God 🙂 don’t hesitate to message me if you need anything at all. God Bless
 
That’s an optimistic point of view. I hope you’re right! As I said, I clearly remember it. It was just a little moment, but I experienced an immense “consolation”, like a very nice shiver in all my body with complete inner peace and a sense of God (and Mary] intensely loving me. After that, all I wanted to do was obeying my parents and wellbehaving. And I was quite a stubborn kid.

Thank you for your good disposition. I’ll write you if I have any doubt.
 
In that uncomfortable silence look and yearn for God. But music is a great intro.
 
“Interior Castle” by Dr. Of the Church, St. Theresa Avila is a great guide for advancing in spiritial life.

I have a link on my homepage called contemplative homeschool. It’s not for kids. It’s how to move from the purgative state to the contemplative state which is advanced prayer coming from God to you.
 
Thank you, Katie. You say you have a link on your homepage… are you referring to your profile in the forum? I can’t access there. Would you mind sharing with me that link?
 
Throughout the day I contemplate God by reminding myself that every decision I choose to make God knew I would make from the moment of creation this always strengthens my faith
 
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