Methods of Prayer

At the beginning of prayer, it is common to be focused on whether I am “doing it right.” Like learning to ride a bike, though, the actual steps of prayer fade to the background with time. An experienced bike rider learned to ride by initially focusing on pedaling, turning the handlebars, and keeping his balance, but with time, those steps became natural. An experienced pray-er can expect the same. Do your best not to get bogged down in the steps or worry about “doing it right,” and stay true to your commitment – especially when it seems like nothing is happening. Remember – Jesus is the one who has already taken the first step, and he awaits in the silence of prayer to give you good gifts.

In our time of prayer, our minds and hearts may be led to various thoughts, memories, feelings, or connections to other passages from Scripture. Every movement in prayer that leads us to something true or good is from God, who can speak to us in numerous ways. God can speak to us directly, through our thoughts, feelings, desires, through others, and through our experiences. Prayer is the way to hear Him speaking. Each of the methods below help us to focus our mind and heart to hear and receive what He wants to share.

Lectio Divina

Lectio divina, or “divine reading,” is an ancient way of praying with Scripture. We move from the words on the page into intimacy with Jesus, the Living Word who speaks to us today. Lectio divina has four steps:

Lectio: Reading

• Lectio divina begins with a prayerful reading of Scripture. This prayerful reading differs greatly from the fast and cursory reading of novels, magazines, or online material. It is different from the information–gathering task of reading textbooks or instruction manuals. There is a reverential and prayerful listening that accompanies the reading. With a spirit of silence and hopeful anticipation, I listen for the words that speak to me personally and intimately. In lectio I read slowly and attentively, honing in on the word or phrase that attracts me, draws me; the words with which God is inviting me to rest.

Meditatio: Meditation

• Once we have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to us in a personal way, we must take it in and “ruminate” on it. The image of the ruminant animal quietly chewing its cud was used in antiquity as a symbol of the Christian pondering the Word of God. Christians have always seen a scriptural invitation to lectio divina in the example of the Virgin Mary “pondering in her heart” what she saw and heard of Christ (Luke 2:19). For us today these images are a reminder that we must take in the word – that is memorize it – and while gently repeating it to ourselves, allow it to interact with our thoughts, our hopes, our memories, our desires. This is the second step or stage in lectio divina – meditatio. Through meditatio we allow God’s Word to become His word for us, a word that touches us and affects us at our deepest levels.

Oratio: Prayer

• The third step in lectio divina is oratio: prayer. Prayer here is understood both as dialogue with God—that is, as loving conversation with the One who has invited us into His embrace—and as offering to God our very selves, including our thoughts, feelings, desires, fears and weaknesses. We allow our real selves to be touched and changed by the word of God.

Contemplatio: Contemplation

• Finally, we simply rest in the presence of the One who has used His word as a means of inviting us to accept His transforming embrace. No one who has ever been in love needs to be reminded that there are moments in loving relationships when words are unnecessary. It is the same in our relationship with God. Wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One Who loves us has a name in the Christian tradition – contemplatio, contemplation. Once again we practice silence, letting go of our words; simply enjoying the experience of being in the presence of God. Contemplation, strictly speaking, is a gift of God, so we cannot produce it ourselves, but we can dispose ourselves to receive it as a gift—for as long as God wishes to give it to us.

The more you practice lectio divina, the easier it gets, and the easier you will begin to move through these steps, disposing yourself more and more to the gift of contemplation.

Ignatian Contemplation

Attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) and articulated in his “Spiritual Exercises,” the Ignatian method of praying with Scripture invites us to enter actively into the mystery presented in a Scriptural text by using our imagination. Generally, Ignatian prayer works best with narrative material in which actual characters live an experience of faith, e.g. in the Gospel stories.  Ignatius commended the imaginative use of the five senses in such meditation. You apply your senses of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling to draw you into the scene of the story and then carry it forth just as you were there.  You can imagine you are in the place of one of the characters or a random observer being drawn into the action.  Most of all, the aim is to draw near and encounter God and to enter the mystery being prayed.  

Steps in Ignatian Contemplation:

• Remote Preparations:

• • • Know your time and place for prayer. 
    • Know what Scripture passage you’ll be using ahead of time.

• Immediate Preparations:

• • • Consider how God looks at you lovingly as you begin to pray, or make another kind of Act of Presence.
    • Briefly ask for God’s assistance.
    • Ask for the grace you desire.

• Read the passage once or twice, slowly and prayerfully: 

• • • “Compose the place” in your mind–that is, imagine the setting and visualize the characters involved. Put yourself in the story, either as a bystander or as one of the characters.

• Pray imaginatively with the story: 

• • • Allow the event to unfold through your imagination. Apply your senses: watch, listen, taste, smell, and feel what is happening around you. Allow yourself to creatively interact with the other persons in the event, especially Jesus, Mary, or whoever the central character may be.
    • Allow yourself to be drawn to the point of greatest interaction and being with God. Pause and remain where you feel consolation, i.e. thoughts, feelings, and desires that lead you towards God and an increase of faith, hope, and love.  
    • Whenever during your prayer you experience that God is giving himself to you, loving you, touching you, or filling you, then simply stay there quietly and receive. Also, slow down and be attentive to areas of desolation, i.e. thoughts, feelings, and desires leading away from God.  Bring these desolations conversationally to God humbly and relate them honestly with trust.  Take a moment to receive his love for you even in your weakness.

• Colloquy: 

• • Conclude your time of prayer by responding spontaneously in a conversation with God the Father, with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and/or Mary. You may choose to converse with just one, or two, or all of them. It may be helpful to conclude each conversation with learned prayers such as the Our Father, Anima Christi, Glory Be, and the Hail Mary.
• Review of Prayer: 
  • After your formal prayer time, take some additional time to review your prayer. What did you notice in your mind, feelings, sentiments, emotions, desires, etc.? Write these down and try to discover what they are saying to you.

30 Passages of Scripture for Prayer

The passages below are great starting points for your time of praying with Scripture. Use either method described above and follow where the Lord leads.

Day 1 – The Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38
Day 2 – The Visitation: Luke 1:39-56
Day 3 – The Nativity: Luke 2:1-20
Day 4 – The Baptism of Our Lord: Mark 1:1-11
Day 5 – Jesus, the Good Shepherd: John 10:1-18
Day 6 – The Washing of the Feet: John 13:1-15
Day 7 -The Vine and the Branches: John 15:1-13
Day 8 – Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer: John 17:20-26
Day 9 – The Temptation of Jesus: Matthew 4:1-11
Day 10 – Daughter of Jairus; Woman with a Hemorrhage: Mark 6:21-43
Day 11 – The Healing of the Paralytic: Mark 2:1-12
Day 12 -The Woman at the Well: John 4:1-26
Day 13- The Prodigal Son: Luke 15:11-32
Day 14 – The Call of Simon: Luke 5:1-11
Day 15 – The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant: Matthew 18:21-35
Day 16 – Fulfilled in your Hearing: Luke 4:14-22
Day 17 – Jesus Walking on the Water: Matthew 14:22-33
Day 18 – The Lilies of the Field: Matthew 5:25-32
Day 19 – The Beatitudes: Matthew 5:1-12
Day 20 – The Our Father: Luke 11:1-13
Day 21 – The Rich Young Man: Matthew 19:16-30
Day 22 – I Am the Bread from Heaven: John 6:32-59
Day 23 – The Transfiguration: Luke 9:28-36
Day 24 – Jesus is Anointed by a Sinful Woman: Luke 7:36-50
Day 25 – The Agony in the Garden: Matthew 26:36-56
Day 26 – The Crucifixion of Our Lord: Luke 24:33-43
Day 27 – The Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13-33
Day 28 – Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene: John 20:11-18
Day 29 – Jesus Appears to Peter: John 21:1-19
Day 30 – Doubting Thomas: John 20:19-30