To understand mystical contemplative prayer

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Hi

I am also going to post a question in the Spirituality section to discuss this topic. This thread I just want to focus on asking for prayers to help me understand what mystical contemplative prayer is. Many years ago, I read most of the works of both St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, as well as works like Thomas Dubay’s “Fire Within”. I did not understand what mystical contemplative prayer was then. I am rereading St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross, and while I understand some things a lot better than I did many years ago, I am still confused about what mystical contemplative prayer is.
Please pray that God helps me understand what this kind of prayer is, and whether He wants me to experience it. This is a most confusing subject for me.

Thank you all for any prayers. God bless you. Amen.
 
Writer_for_God said:
Hi

I am also going to post a question in the Spirituality section to discuss this topic. This thread I just want to focus on asking for prayers to help me understand what mystical contemplative prayer is. Many years ago, I read most of the works of both St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, as well as works like Thomas Dubay’s “Fire Within”. I did not understand what mystical contemplative prayer was then. I am rereading St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross, and while I understand some things a lot better than I did many years ago, I am still confused about what mystical contemplative prayer is.
Please pray that God helps me understand what this kind of prayer is, and whether He wants me to experience it. This is a most confusing subject for me.

Thank you all for any prayers. God bless you. Amen.
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In its broadest sense, Contemplative Prayer is usually contrasted with Meditative prayer.

I like to think of this as either you doing the work (Meditation), or God working on you (Contemplation).

Meditation, at least in its Catholic usage of the term, would refer to practices like Lectio Divina or the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola. Reading Scripture and ruminating over what has been said. The Activity is done by our mind, as we read not study but to be inspired by God and then to reflect on what the Lord might be trying to convey to us.

Contemplation is step above that - because that’s God working on you. It is to clear one’s mind of all the concerns, cares, and thoughts created by encounters with the world or from your own mind.

Its about opening yourself up to God completely and letting him speak to you.

We see this form of practice again and again throughout our Church’s history - St. John Climachus Ladder of Ascent, Hesychasm that our Eastern Catholic and Orthodox brethren practice, the method suggested by the author of the Cloud of Unknowing, and of course Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross.

All of them left behind sign posts/road maps of their own Contemplative experiences in an attempt to provide some sort of guide for us…
 
Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
 
Praying for your intention regarding contemplative prayer.

God Bless you as well.

Mary.
 
Praying through St.Theresa Avila for your intention.
May she help you grow in understanding infused Contemplative prayer.
:signofcross:
 
Sincerest Prayers:
Our Father who art in heaven…
Hail Mary, full of grace… Hail Mary, full of grace… Hail Mary, full of grace…
Glory Be to the Father…
Amen…
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†
 
PRAYER TO BL. ANNE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW

Blessed Anne, you were blessed with extraordinary visions at a young age, which eventually led you into a vocation to the religious life. You accompanied St. Teresa of Avila as she established new Carmelite contents and were a comfort and help to her. As prioress of these converts, you followed God’s will and were a leader and example to the nuns under your care. Today on this your feast day, I humbly ask for your prayers and intercession for all those who post in this forum. May we follow God’s will for us as you did, and have the courage and strength of purpose to carry our crosses so that we be blessed with the vision of our Lord in heaven for all eternity. We ask these prayers through your intercession and in the Name of Jesus, who is Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†
 
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