Here is the first talk of a series on Christian Prayer, given at Corpus Christi Parish in Great Falls, MT.
Introduction to Christian Prayer
“For me,
prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is
a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” (St. Therese
of Lisieux)
“Prayer is
the raising of one’s mind to God, or the requesting of good things from God.”
(St. John Damascene)
First distinction: Liturgical Prayer and Personal
Prayer. (we will focus on private or personal prayer)
Second distinction, within personal prayer: Vocal
Prayer, Meditation, and Contemplation
Vocal Prayer: “Lord,
teach us to pray! – And our Lord replied: When you pray, say: ‘Pater noster, qui es in coelis … Our Father who are in heaven …’ What
importance we must attach to vocal prayer!” (St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way 84)
Meditation: “Meditation is above all a quest.
The mind seeks to understand the why and how of the Christian life, in order to
adhere and respond to what the Lord is asking. The required attentiveness is
difficult to sustain. We are usually helped by books.” (Catechism 2705)
Contemplation: “Contemplative prayer in my opinion
is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time
frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” (St. Teresa of Avila)
The Three Ages of the Interior Life: The Beginners, the Proficients, the
Perfect.
The interior
life is not separate from the practice of the virtues. There is no true growth
in prayer without growth in the virtues.
Everyone is
called to Christian perfection and contemplation. The saints are those who pass
through to the highest mystical union of the life of prayer.
Most common errors in prayer
“In the
battle of prayer, we must face in ourselves and around us erroneous notions of prayer. Some people view prayer as a simple
psychological activity, others as an effort of concentration to reach a mental
void. Still others reduce prayer to ritual words and postures. Many Christians
unconsciously regard prayer as an occupation that is incompatible with all the
other things they have to do: they ‘don’t have the time.’ Those who seek God by
prayer are quickly discouraged because they do not know that prayer comes also
from the Holy Spirit and not from themselves alone.” (Catechism 2726)
Christian prayer is
not: self-help,
eastern meditation (e.g. zen or centering prayer), merely external rituals, a
job or mere obligation.
A poem from St. Teresa of Avila
(Doctor of Prayer)
If,
Lord, Thy love for me is strong
As
this which binds me unto Thee,
what
holds me from Thee, Lord, so long,
What
holds Thee, Lord, so long from me?
O
soul, what then desirest thou?
-Lord,
I would see, who thus choose Thee.
What
fears can yet assail thee now?
-All
that I fear is to lose Thee.
Love's
whole possession I entreat,
Lord,
make my soul Thine own abode,
And
I will build a nest so sweet
It
may not be too poor for God.
O
soul in God hidden from sin,
What
more desires for thee remain.
Save
but to love, and love again,
And
all in flame, with love within,
Love
on, and turn to love again?
|
Si el amor que me tenéis,
Dios mío, es como el que os tengo,
Decidme: ¿en qué me detengo?
O Vos, ¿en qué os detenéis?
-Alma, ¿qué quieres de mí?
-Dios mío, no más que verte.
-Y ¿qué temes más de ti?
-Lo que más temo es perderte.
Un amor que ocupe os pido,
Dios mío, mi alma os tenga,
para hacer un dulce nido
adonde más la convenga.
Un alma en Dios escondida
¿qué tiene que desear,
sino amar y más amar,
y en amor toda escondida
tornarte de nuevo a amar?
|
How to engage oneself in mental
prayer
Mental prayer, per se:
This
includes things like: The Rosary, Lectio
Divina with Scripture or writings from the saints, praying with icons, etc.
Outline for a period of
mental prayer (at least 15 or 20 minutes)
1) The beginning, or preparation: We
begin always by placing ourselves in God’s presence, humbling ourselves, asking
the Holy Spirit for light, setting before our mind the mystery we will
consider. Give this time wholly over to God.
2) The body, or considerations: The
consideration of the mystery. This is the majority of the time of prayer. We
think especially on the love of God revealed in this mystery.
3) The conclusion: We give adore and
give thanks to God, making acts of love for him. We ask for the graces we need
in our daily life and, especially, the grace of final perseverance. We resolve
to grow in particular virtues and particular areas of our life.
The most important part is the
conclusion (though it is shorter than the considerations).
Practicing the presence of God:
“Be sure
then, my child, that while externally occupied with business and social duties,
you frequently retire within the solitude of your own heart. That solitude need
not be in any way hindered by the crowds which surround you – they surround
your body, not your soul, and your heart remains alone in the Sole Presence of
God.” (St. Francis de Sales)
Abandonment to Divine Providence:
To accept
whatever may come as coming from the hand of God, either from his direct will
or from his permissive will. All things
happen for the God, for those who love God.
Christian
perfection consists in resigning oneself wholly to the plan of God.
Recommended Reading:
Introduction
to the Devout Life, by St. Francis de Sales
How to
converse continually and familiarly with God, by St. Alphonsus Liguori
Abandonment
to Divine Providence, by Jeanne-Pierre de Cussade
The Secret
of Mary, by St. Louis de Montfort
The Way, by
St. Josemaria Escriva
