Mental Prayer

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Hello,
I have kind of a problem. I keep hearing about the benefits of mental prayer and am really interested in starting it. The problem is I don’t reall have any free time to do it. I already say 15 decades of the rosary and other vocal prayers. I think I should begin it, do you think I shoud only say one rosary to make way for maybe half hour of meditation daily. I’m very interested in the writings on St Teresa of Avila and what she says about mental prayer, any advice?
 
Check out CCC 2700-2724 about “The Expressions of Prayer.”

It covers vocal, meditative, and contemplative.

I’d say if you wish to go to a deeper form of prayer such as contemplative but are too busy with other vocal prayer on a rigorous schedule you impose upon yourself, then consider letting go. Nothing wrong with all that prayer, but if it gets in your way from other things, then why are you doing it? If this is the case then in a way you are being enslaved by your own self-imposed prayer regimen and you might consider changing it up a bit, like having a two-day schedule instead of daily.

Alan
 
seanom said:
Hello,
I have kind of a problem. I keep hearing about the benefits of mental prayer and am really interested in starting it. The problem is I don’t reall have any free time to do it. I already say 15 decades of the rosary and other vocal prayers. I think I should begin it, do you think I shoud only say one rosary to make way for maybe half hour of meditation daily. I’m very interested in the writings on St Teresa of Avila and what she says about mental prayer, any advice?
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Dear seanom,

A really excellent book, which can help you understand how to grow in prayer is The Ordinary Path to Holiness by Thomas Richard. This is a small book written by a layman for lay persons in particular, however all can benefit by reading it. The author explains how the Church has taught, through saints like Teresa of Avila, true growth in prayer and in holiness. It can help you to understand the stages of growth as experienced in the lives of the saints as well as come to understand your own growth in prayer. You can read more about this book HERE

Yes, mental prayer is a call into a deeper relationship with God. As Alan has pointed out, the Catechism explains the different forms of prayer, and we are called to grow from vocal prayer, which is where most of us begin, and continue, and by God’s Grace we gradually enter mental prayer. The Rosary is intended to include both vocal prayer as well as mental prayer, through meditation upon the mysteries. So too, when we participate at Mass, many of us begin with the vocal prayers of the responses, but gradually we can begin to experience mediation upon the mysteries of our offering ourselves at Mass with Jesus, and especially mental prayer during Holy Communion.

A final word from Blessed John Paul II in his Apostolic Letter on the Most Holy Rosary:
…5. But the most important reason for strongly encouraging the practice of the Rosary is that it represents a most effective means of fostering among the faithful that commitment to the contemplation of the Christian mystery which I have proposed in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte as a genuine “training in holiness”: “What is needed is a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer”.(9) Inasmuch as contemporary culture, even amid so many indications to the contrary, has witnessed the flowering of a new call for spirituality, due also to the influence of other religions, it is more urgent than ever that our Christian communities should become “genuine schools of prayer”
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Whenever I make mental prayer I try and focus on God & reconciliation to the Cross . .
 
I my search to deepen my prayer life I have read a number of books and when my son asked my advice, based on my experience, I told him that the very best book to start with is Prayer Primer by Fr Thomas Dubay followed by *Deep Conversion Deep Prayer *by Thomas Dubay followed by *Fire Within *by, you guessed it, Fr Thomas Dubay.

*Prayer Primer *starts right at the beginning and tells about the various types of prayer from say the Rosary to mental prayer which is talking to God, to meditation up to contemplation. He outlines a plan which will help someone who is determined to go deeper into their prayer advance from prayers written by other people, nothing wrong with them just that they shouldn’t be the only prayers we say, right up to infused contemplation - a gift from God.

Deep Conversion… speaks about the necessity of ridding our lives from venial sin, assuming that we have already said good bye to mortal sin, because we won’t be able to advance in our prayer life if we still have attractions to poor choices.

*Fire Within *speaks about the writings of St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila and how to advance in contemplation. .

Don’t expect to reach the heights without going through the lower levels.

A good book on meditation is Fr Bartunek’s A Guide to Christian Meditation

Lectio Divina - reading the scriptures in a prayerful manner is recommended by Pope Benedict.
 
Mental Prayer is merely resting in the presence of God, who dwells within.

It’s the interior state of being hin God’s presence.

For me, I always begin mental prayer with a prayer word, “Lord Jesus.” I repeat this prayer word as I turn to Him and seek to be with Him.

When I become aware that I’ve lost my focus of attention in being with the Lord, I merely return to the prayer word, “Lord Jesus.”

Never force or get anxious in mental prayer. Anything we receive comes from God, not from the prayer itself.

Remember, it’s an act of love and whatever you give or receive, is done through love not anything else.

Anything other than love ends up serving an agenda of our own, which we are seeking to detach ourselves from.

Jim
 
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