What do you imagine when you pray?

[Nelka]

We imagine the same when we pray the Rosary but what about when you pray other prayers?

Is it different depending on the prayer?

Thanks.

 

[mVitus]

For me it depends on which prayer.

To Mary, I think of her watching from Heaven.

Any other saint: I don’t have a standard.

To God, I try envisioning a cross, a white one made of light to be exact.

 

[XXI_4]

When I say a Hail Mary I try to envision the annunciation & visitation during the first half, then picture Mary with Jesus during the second half. In what way depends on the time of year… pregnant Mary during advent, Mary with the Infant Jesus during Christmastime, Mary at the foot of the cross during lent, etc.

During the Our Father, I don’t so much imagine an image as I try to think of the meaning as I go along. In other words, as I’m saying “give us this day, our daily bread” I try to think “give me the grace I need for today, Lord”, etc. Sometimes if I am holding a grudge against someone who has done something wrong to me, I picture them during “as we forgive those” and think to myself that I forgive them, and ask for forgiveness for having a grudge.

 

[Wannabe_Monk_16]

What a cool question!

When I pray, I imagine my Guardian Angel writing down everything I direct towards the Holy Trinity (whether through some or all members of the Church Triumphant) and beaming it up to Heaven. I think some mystical saint (St. Bernard ?) had a vision of his fellow monks praying and their Guardian Angels writing in either ink, gold, or some other material based on their commitment during their prayer. I remember him seeing that some Guardian Angels were sadly writing nothing…

If I ask a certain saint to assist me in prayer while praying, I imagine that saint taking that prayer and boosting it and sanctifying it, making it more efficacious to God. Imagine what the Queen of Heaven does with a prayer…!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

As you grow in prayer and begin to be drawn to contemplative prayer, you’ll no longer imagine God or things when you pray.

Instead, you’ll merely place yourself in the presence of God, who’s image we don’t create, but allow Him to reveal Himself as He is. It is in this place that God will speak to you best, for it will be Him speaking in silence, rather than your imagination speaking.

Jim

 

[Robert_Sock]

As you grow in prayer and begin to be drawn to contemplative prayer, you’ll no longer imagine God or things when you pray.

Instead, you’ll merely place yourself in the presence of God, who’s image we don’t create, but allow Him to reveal Himself as He is. It is in this place that God will speak to you best, for it will be Him speaking in silence, rather than your imagination speaking.

Jim

 

[bardegaulois]

I can’t really say I imagine anything. Prayer is more a function of the heart, and not of the mind. It’s more a presentation of myself, with all my often contradictory thoughts and feelings, to God, asking first that my mind and heart may be silenced from all its cares, that the time I spend with Him might not be idle.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I can’t really say I imagine anything. Prayer is more a function of the heart, and not of the mind. It’s more a presentation of myself, with all my often contradictory thoughts and feelings, to God, asking first that my mind and heart may be silenced from all its cares, that the time I spend with Him might not be idle.

Amen !

Jim