Question about Contemplative Prayer

[Jenny35]

I think about God, Jesus, Mary or the Saints during nearly all of my waking hours. And by that I don’t mean that I simply sit and think, but whatever I’m doing, I’m mindful of God while also being mindful of the task or situation at hand. Is that the beginnings of contemplative prayer or have I misunderstood the concept?

 

[cjforJesus]

I think about God, Jesus, Mary or the Saints during nearly all of my waking hours. And by that I don’t mean that I simply sit and think, but whatever I’m doing, I’m mindful of God while also being mindful of the task or situation at hand. Is that the beginnings of contemplative prayer or have I misunderstood the concept?

I believe the answer to your question is a resounding “yes”. Contemplative prayer is nothing more than a fixed gaze at Jesus.Taking time to frequently be with the One who loves us.

Contemplative prayer, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church outlines by quoting St. Teresa of Ávila – one of the Church’s masters in the school of contemplation – is “‘nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.’ Contemplative prayer seeks him ‘whom my soul loves.’ It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him” (CCC 2709).

 

[FrancisBenedict]

Yes!

Mindfulness is as much art of contemplative prayer as simply contemplating.

You might enjoy Thomas Merton’s book on Contemplative Prayer.

 

[englishredrose]

Or you can visit the UK website on Contemplative Prayer and even join as a emiritas member as I have because there isn’t an accessible group near me and besides which the group would detract from own prayer style.

I am simply aware of the Presence of God as and when, in my life. It is simple and perfect for me. My priest encouraged me this way forward last year and am still doubtful in that it is so simple and straight forward. No complex set of words. I can’t use word style prayer although intercessionary prayer has an important place in prayer, I really can’t do it. At my last confession the priest gave me a book to read which backed up everything he had been saying to me about this way of prayer and the only down side to it is that from time to time it hurts so much that has taken 25 year to have discovered it - to be taught it by the right priest. Other priests have tried but couldn’t get me where I needed to be as such and I didn’t know the right question to get that so it been a journey but now I am more or less happy it so perfect and so simple and so real and so just being with God is perfect.

If you put in search contemplative prayer UK you will come across it and oops, I think it for Catholics too. It for anyone who wants that way of Prayer in their Christian Lives. I really do not know it is is Catholic or not as it don’t worry me but if it worries you then you can check it out also by emaling their contact person. My priest signposted me to the website, that is how I found it.

 

[DBT]

I’m mindful of God while also being mindful of the task or situation at hand. Is that the beginnings of contemplative prayer or have I misunderstood the concept?

Mindfulness is the key word as you intuitively grasp! But it is more than the “beginning” … an habitual mindfulness is the apex of contemplative living. It is the essence of what is sometimes described by the Saints and theolgians as the unitive way.

Many blessings!
Dave

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I think about God, Jesus, Mary or the Saints during nearly all of my waking hours. And by that I don’t mean that I simply sit and think, but whatever I’m doing, I’m mindful of God while also being mindful of the task or situation at hand. Is that the beginnings of contemplative prayer or have I misunderstood the concept?

Awesome! It certainly sounds like it to me. :harp:

I think it’s time for :dancing:

Especially if it is non-verbal, so that you may not be thinking intellectually about God or pondering words to Him, but just an overwhelming sense of connection and if I may guess, a sense of immense gratitude and abundance at any given moment that it happens that you notice it. This sounds very excellent, and I’d guess there a good chance you’re entering the kingdom even now.

:heaven:

This sort of mentality can come along with cultivating spirits of humility and poverty. And those are tickets to both the kingdom and the land:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

…

“Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.”

Can you imagine how Pope Francis must feel?

Alan

 

[hazcompat]

Ch 14

The Kinds of Divine Union

e. The Different Kinds of Union with God

We must remember here that John has distinguished three kinds of union with God. By means of the first God dwells substantially in all created things and sustains their existence. By the second, we are to understand the indwelling of God in the soul through grace; by the third, the transforming union through perfect love that divinizes the soul.

Stein, Edith (2011-03-17). The Science of the Cross (The Collected Works of Edith Stein Vol. 6) (Kindle Locations 2919-2922). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

Peace

 

[DBT]

Ch 14

The Kinds of Divine Union

e. The Different Kinds of Union with God

We must remember here that John has distinguished three kinds of union with God. By means of the first God dwells substantially in all created things and sustains their existence. By the second, we are to understand the indwelling of God in the soul through grace; by the third, the transforming union through perfect love that divinizes the soul.

Stein, Edith (2011-03-17). The Science of the Cross (The Collected Works of Edith Stein Vol. 6) (Kindle Locations 2919-2922). ICS Publications. Kindle Edition.

Peace

Jenny -

Here’s how what you described can be tied back to the mystical teaching above.

When one realizes they are drawn to pray as you describe, they are practicing the “second” method. Grace leads to an implicit understanding of the indwelling presence of God … an experiential grasping that “the kingdom of God is within.” At first, such mindfulness to God can be difficult due to our fallen nature. In short, we forget God and we must work to re-remember Him. Again, and again and again.

As one is transformed the union becomes of the “third” type. Transforming union is many things but suffice it to say a key component is the pulling up by the roots of our ingrained imperfections. Not the least of which is our tendancy to forget God. In the transformed individual, the soul no longer has to work at remembering God. The remembrance of God tends toward the habitual and becomes, like Brother Lawrence teaches, “second nature almost like breathing.” Such an individual instinctively practices a key aspect of what St. Teresa shows in her 7th mansions: self-forgetfulness.

Two works that may help you on this journey: Book 3 of The Ascent of Mount Carmel for a wonderful discussion of aids to becoming habitually recollected and overcoming our nature that is prone to forgetfullness.

The second: The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. You seem to be living what he shows in this work!

Dave

 

[InLight247]

I think about God, Jesus, Mary or the Saints during nearly all of my waking hours. And by that I don’t mean that I simply sit and think, but whatever I’m doing, I’m mindful of God while also being mindful of the task or situation at hand. Is that the beginnings of contemplative prayer or have I misunderstood the concept?

Jenny,

The answer to your question is “yes”. Contemplative prayer is lingering with the Beloved.
You are just doing that. Praise the Lord.