On the feast of Pentecost, we look to how the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in the spiritual life. Most especially, we see the importance of daily Bible reading, daily reading of the lives of the saints, and daily mental prayer. (An outline of mental prayer is posted below)
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A. 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).
B. An expanded guide for mental prayer:
St. Alphonsus Liguori offers a good outline for a period of meditation (which could range anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or more). The basic structure of Alphonsus’ method is common to nearly every spiritual tradition, though the particular emphasis on the petitioning of graces is particular to his thought. The Carmelite tradition emphasizes the affections and acts of love made in the last portion of the body of the prayer. Note also that the Carmelites emphasize the movement inward!
Introduction (only one or two minutes) – The period of prayer begins with the recognition of the presence of God. He is present both in the place in which you are praying (most especially, if you are able to pray before the Eucharist), but he is also present in your soul through a special mode by grace. Adore the Lord, as you enter more fully into his presence.
Then, declare the purity of your intention – that you intend to pray well during this period of meditation. To this end, petition the Lord for the supernatural light necessary to illumine your intellect in order to contemplate the divine mysteries. Finally, offer a few short prayers to Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Michael, your guardian angel, and all your patron saints.
The body of the prayer (20 to 50 minutes) – Here you enter into the meditation. This can be the Rosary, lectio divina, imaginative Ignatian prayer, or any other method of the Catholic spiritual tradition. The key is that you focus especially on the Love of God which is revealed to you through the meditation. Movements of love are more important than progress in intellectual understanding. Offer God prayers of thanksgiving and adoration.
Conclusion – This is the culmination of the period of prayer. It is here that you are to ask the Lord for further blessings and graces – especially for the grace of salvation and all those things necessary for your salvation. Having meditated on the Love of God, you are more convinced of his mercy and care for you; moreover, seeing his greatness, you recognize your lowliness and your need for his grace.
Though this portion of the prayer may not take much time, it is still the most important and necessary aspect of the period of meditation. In simple and heartfelt words, you petition God for the gift of final perseverance, for the graces necessary to persevere in prayer through your whole life, and for the graces which help you to remain in the state of grace from now until your next period of meditation. Moreover, you ought to ask God for all else that you desire – he will not deny the soul who perseveres in prayer, especially when she is filled with great love through meditation!
