Mental Prayer

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I am trying to adopt the practice of mental prayer. I was hoping that somebody here could point me towards any collection or book of guided meditations to aid my mental prayer? Anything that is especially moving or that is very fruitful for meditating. Also anything that is more traditional or from a Saint, Blessed, etc would be great!! Thanks!!
 
Start with the writing of St. Teresa of Avila. In her spiritual biography ’ The Life of St teresa of Avila by herself’ she discusses prayer. Also in ‘The way to perfection’ and ‘Interior castles’- they are a must.
There is a book called ‘The could of unknowing’, by an unknown author, probably a Carthusian monk. This one is a bit of a challenging read.
 
I would suggest starting with St. Teresa of Avila’s Way of Perfection. I would also suggest Bro. Lawance’s Practicing the Presense of God. Good luck!
 
Contra_Mundum said:
Start with the writing of St. Teresa of Avila. In her spiritual biography ’ The Life of St teresa of Avila by herself’ she discusses prayer. Also in ‘The way to perfection’ and ‘Interior castles’- they are a must.
There is a book called ‘The could of unknowing’, by an unknown author, probably a Carthusian monk. This one is a bit of a challenging read.
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I’m sure you meant “The Cloud of Unknowing”. 🙂
 
smad0142 said:
I am trying to adopt the practice of mental prayer. I was hoping that somebody here could point me towards any collection or book of guided meditations to aid my mental prayer? Anything that is especially moving or that is very fruitful for meditating. Also anything that is more traditional or from a Saint, Blessed, etc would be great!! Thanks!!
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Divine Intimacy, by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D., is a wonderful series of meditations based on the liturgical year and are founded in Carmelite spirituality.
 
I am not sure if this is what you mean; but I say the rosary in my head every night as I go to sleep; and ask God to help my friends and loved ones. It is simple and easy and a good way to learn to pray mentaly. Hope this helps.🙂
 
You might come across something called ‘centering prayer’ (Fr. T. Keating) .
I’d stay away from that. It verges on new age spirituality.
 
I’d start with St. Francis DeSales “Introduction to the Devout Life” before I went with St. Theresa of Avalia.

Not trying to start a saint war but DeSales does have some very basic instruction on bringing oneself into God’s presence and practical how-to advice on meditation.

-Tim-
 
smad0142 said:
I am trying to adopt the practice of mental prayer. I was hoping that somebody here could point me towards any collection or book of guided meditations to aid my mental prayer? Anything that is especially moving or that is very fruitful for meditating. Also anything that is more traditional or from a Saint, Blessed, etc would be great!! Thanks!!
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here is one you can read free online - archive.org/details/meditationsday00bacouoft

it’s an old book so it’s not easy to find, i managed to find it last year after looking around for awhile, and it is currently my favorite meditations book, it’s just a collection of meditations, mostly from saints, and it’s very deep and moving(atleast to me it is)

and here are a few others i really like - catholicfreeshipping.com/Products/cfs_gensym-152.html
tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/840
amazon.com/Meditations-Lent-St-Thomas-Aquinas/dp/0912141689
tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/912
tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/697

and here is a books that explains meditation very well, how to do it, why you should, how often, etc. etc. - tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/744

each of these books are traditional, and very deep, so i think you would be pleased with any one of them.
 
A lot of my friends used the periodical “Magnificat,” which includes readings from scripture, prayers, and commentary. Although I don’t use it, it looks very good, a very nice lay alternative to the Liturgy of the Hours. A link:

magnificat.com/
 
Catechism on Prayer (vocal prayer, mental prayer, and contemplative prayer)
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s1c3a1.htm

The books noted above is good:thumbsup: You should learn from carmelite saints about mental and vocal prayer. St. Teresa of Avila is a good start.

The Rosary is a combination of vocal and mental prayer. It contains meditations on the mystery (which is a mental prayer)

The books mentioned above are available from this site: saintsbookscatechisms.blogspot.com/

More specifically, the cloud of unknowing

Brother Lawrence Practice of the Presence of God and Introduction to a Devout Life - St. Francis de Sales

The way of perfection and interior castle

On the Carmelite Saints section.

I would recommend all carmelite saints to be your guide in mental and contemplative prayer

Here are carmelite saints podcasts to get to know them and their teaching
meditationsfromcarmel.com/mp3.html

Very nice 👍
 
I found this meditation by anonymous to be good and moving. But this is not for mental prayer, only books containing reflections for Lent and Advent.
smad0142 said:
Anything that is especially moving or that is very fruitful for meditating
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Anonymous - Considerations and Devout Meditations for Every Day During the Holy Season of Lent

‘There is nothing more united and less united than the soul and body. When one advances, the other recoils; when one rises, the other descends; when one is in health, the other is sick; when one is strong, the other is weak. It is necessary, then, in order to strengthen and give health to the soul, to bring the body under subjection, and weaken its evil propensities by penance and mortification. I am not a man if I obey my passions; I am not a Christian if I do not combat with and overcome my passions; I am not a true penitent if I do not mortify my passions. Since my body is polluted by sin, it ought to be purified by pain; and since it has part in the pleasures of the soul, it ought to glory in sharing its sorrows.’

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Anonymous - Meditations for Advent and Easter
‘Oh, what a holy, beautiful, peaceful light is the light of the Infant Heart of Jesus! How it longs to come forth and manifest itself to all, to console, to instruct, to illuminate! Are we, also, longing to receive this light? Are we praying with our whole hearts that it may come to us, and that we may be prepared to receive it? However great our spiritual enlightenment may be, we are still, in some measure, “sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.” But the light is coming; already we can see the dawn upon the mountain. When Mary was born, the first ray of light tinged the eastern sky; when Jesus was born, the light of this mystic moon was as the light of the true sun, because of her perfect union with Him; and the light of the sun was sevenfold, as the light of seven days. The light was sevenfold; that is, the light was perfect, for it was the light of God.’

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Secrets to Sanctity - According to St. Francis de Sales, will give you guidance on prayer, mental prayer, most specifically. Just seek in the table of contents

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Great book:thumbsup:
 
Secrets of Sanctity is such a great book. I’d highly recommend it to everyone.
 
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