Many prayers come to us at this time of year. Some "talk" to us and they do us good. Others "speak" to us little, if at all; That's normal. Ignatius of Loyola offers another personal prayer.It is made up of fewer words, prayers where we "expose ourselves to the Word" (as one exposes ourselves to the sun) and to the "silence of God"
3 points
- Choose a text from the Bible, so-called "The Word of God" (of the coming day or Sunday).
- quietly read this text. Then, take a sentence that speaks to me, this attitude or word of Jesus (or another character), such a detail that I had never spotted. So choose one /two/ or even three points perhaps, no more. God speaks to the heart, not to reasoning. I am touched by these points
Presence
- Then choose a place (in front of an icon, a cross, a representation of Mary), a cross, a posture of my body (it must not be tense…). This can be sitting on a chair that will support my back or on my knees if it doesn't bother me (helped by a small bench or cushion). Also choose a duration (15 minutes, 20 minutes at the beginning).
- Pray to the Lord. I address him to offer him this moment which comes"I offer you My prayer, and I ask you to enlighten me on this matter …, to give me your peace, to help such a person from whom I am far away." I can ask Mary to accompany my prayer "Hail Mary."
Directing
- Carry my thought and imagination into the scene on which I meditate (what does Jesus do? Who are the people around him? how does the action evolve?) Here we go... take successively the first point I gave myself when I first read the text, then the second (then the third if there is a third). I'll stay on one point as long as he "speaks to me." Or I'll move on to the next one without haste. Perhaps I will not even go to the next one because the point on which I meditate "speaks to me" (or rather I feel that "the Lord speaks to me"). If my imagination wanders (yes!) it doesn't matter, I can go back quietly to the point I gave myself
Conference
- End with a prayer as the end of the time I gave myself (in the last two or three minutes) approaches. I thank the Lord for what I feel he has given me (a joy, an inner peace, such a face to which I have thought, such concrete action to be carried out). Rise up and express the prayer of "Our Father."
Ignatius says that "it is not to know much that satisfies the soul, but it is to taste things inwardly." And let us remember that, by "the Word of God," God seeks to "talk to me" to join me in my ordinary life.
Good prayer, to be more companion of Jesus, and to stand in what is happening to us!
Christophe, SVECJ
