I've wanted to start a topic about this for a while...
Does anyone here practice contemplative prayer? What are your thoughts on it?
Does anyone here practice contemplative prayer? What are your thoughts on it?
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Contemplative Prayer: discussion
- Thread starter MoNiCa4316
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First, maybe we should define what contemplative prayer is, just so that we're all talking about the same thing
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It's one who dedicated their life to prayer instead of service... I think. You can be a contemplative and not be a religious.
If you can't do anything, like feed the poor or go into the mission fields you can pray for the conversion of the world.
If you can't do anything, like feed the poor or go into the mission fields you can pray for the conversion of the world.
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MichaelFJF
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It's not an either/or situation. Both Mother Teresa and John Paul II were contemplative mystics. They prayed and dedicated their lives to service.
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Not that I know of-- it is one who gives their life to prayer. being contemplative, being prayerful, living a life of prayer. lI thought it was a specific type of prayer....
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I found some info!
Firstly from Wikipedia (the answer to ALL questions!)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemplative_prayer
lol...and secondly, from the Catechism (probably a more reliable source hehe):
III. CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
2709 What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: "Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] 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."6 Contemplative prayer seeks him "whom my soul loves."7 It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.
2710 The choice of the time and duration of the prayer arises from a determined will, revealing the secrets of the heart. One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has the time: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up, no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter. One cannot always meditate, but one can always enter into inner prayer, independently of the conditions of health, work, or emotional state. The heart is the place of this quest and encounter, in poverty ant in faith.
2711 Entering into contemplative prayer is like entering into the Eucharistic liturgy: we "gather up:" the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, abide in the dwelling place of the Lord which we are, awaken our faith in order to enter into the presence of him who awaits us. We let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord who loves us, so as to hand ourselves over to him as an offering to be purified and transformed.
2712 Contemplative prayer is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven sinner who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and who wants to respond to it by loving even more.8 But he knows that the love he is returning is poured out by the Spirit in his heart, for everything is grace from God. Contemplative prayer is the poor and humble surrender to the loving will of the Father in ever deeper union with his beloved Son.
2713 Contemplative prayer is the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gift, a grace; it can be accepted only in humility and poverty. Contemplative prayer is a covenant relationship established by God within our hearts.9 Contemplative prayer is a communion in which the Holy Trinity conforms man, the image of God, "to his likeness."
2714 Contemplative prayer is also the pre-eminently intense time of prayer. In it the Father strengthens our inner being with power through his Spirit "that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith" and we may be "grounded in love."10
2715 Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus. "I look at him and he looks at me": This is what a certain peasant of Ars in the time of his holy cure' used to say while praying before the tabernacle. This focus on Jesus is a renunciation of self. His gaze purifies our heart; the light of the countenance of Jesus illumines the eyes of our heart and teaches us to see everything in the light of his truth and his compassion for all men. Contemplation also turns its gaze on the mysteries of the life of Christ. Thus it learns the "interior knowledge of our Lord," the more to love him and follow him.11
2716 Contemplative prayer is hearing the Word of God. Far from being passive, such attentiveness is the obedience of faith, the unconditional acceptance of a servant, and the loving commitment of a child. It participates in the "Yes" of the Son become servant and the Fiat of God's lowly handmaid.
2717 Contemplative prayer is silence, the "symbol of the world to come"12 or "silent love."13 Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this silence, unbearable to the "outer" man, the Father speaks to us his incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus.
2718 Contemplative prayer is a union with the prayer of Christ insofar as it makes us participate in his mystery. The mystery of Christ is celebrated by the Church in the Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit makes it come alive in contemplative prayer so that our charity will manifest it in our acts.
2719 Contemplative prayer is a communion of love bearing Life for the multitude, to the extent that it consents to abide in the night of faith. The Paschal night of the Resurrection passes through the night of the agony and the tomb - the three intense moments of the Hour of Jesus which his Spirit (and not "the flesh [which] is weak") brings to life in prayer. We must be willing to "keep watch with [him] one hour."14
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p4s1c3a1.htm
Firstly from Wikipedia
(the answer to ALL questions!)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemplative_prayer
lol...and secondly, from the Catechism (probably a more reliable source hehe):
III. CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
2709 What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: "Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] 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."6 Contemplative prayer seeks him "whom my soul loves."7 It is Jesus, and in him, the Father. We seek him, because to desire him is always the beginning of love, and we seek him in that pure faith which causes us to be born of him and to live in him. In this inner prayer we can still meditate, but our attention is fixed on the Lord himself.
2710 The choice of the time and duration of the prayer arises from a determined will, revealing the secrets of the heart. One does not undertake contemplative prayer only when one has the time: one makes time for the Lord, with the firm determination not to give up, no matter what trials and dryness one may encounter. One cannot always meditate, but one can always enter into inner prayer, independently of the conditions of health, work, or emotional state. The heart is the place of this quest and encounter, in poverty ant in faith.
2711 Entering into contemplative prayer is like entering into the Eucharistic liturgy: we "gather up:" the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, abide in the dwelling place of the Lord which we are, awaken our faith in order to enter into the presence of him who awaits us. We let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord who loves us, so as to hand ourselves over to him as an offering to be purified and transformed.
2712 Contemplative prayer is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven sinner who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and who wants to respond to it by loving even more.8 But he knows that the love he is returning is poured out by the Spirit in his heart, for everything is grace from God. Contemplative prayer is the poor and humble surrender to the loving will of the Father in ever deeper union with his beloved Son.
2713 Contemplative prayer is the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gift, a grace; it can be accepted only in humility and poverty. Contemplative prayer is a covenant relationship established by God within our hearts.9 Contemplative prayer is a communion in which the Holy Trinity conforms man, the image of God, "to his likeness."
2714 Contemplative prayer is also the pre-eminently intense time of prayer. In it the Father strengthens our inner being with power through his Spirit "that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith" and we may be "grounded in love."10
2715 Contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus. "I look at him and he looks at me": This is what a certain peasant of Ars in the time of his holy cure' used to say while praying before the tabernacle. This focus on Jesus is a renunciation of self. His gaze purifies our heart; the light of the countenance of Jesus illumines the eyes of our heart and teaches us to see everything in the light of his truth and his compassion for all men. Contemplation also turns its gaze on the mysteries of the life of Christ. Thus it learns the "interior knowledge of our Lord," the more to love him and follow him.11
2716 Contemplative prayer is hearing the Word of God. Far from being passive, such attentiveness is the obedience of faith, the unconditional acceptance of a servant, and the loving commitment of a child. It participates in the "Yes" of the Son become servant and the Fiat of God's lowly handmaid.
2717 Contemplative prayer is silence, the "symbol of the world to come"12 or "silent love."13 Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this silence, unbearable to the "outer" man, the Father speaks to us his incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus.
2718 Contemplative prayer is a union with the prayer of Christ insofar as it makes us participate in his mystery. The mystery of Christ is celebrated by the Church in the Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit makes it come alive in contemplative prayer so that our charity will manifest it in our acts.
2719 Contemplative prayer is a communion of love bearing Life for the multitude, to the extent that it consents to abide in the night of faith. The Paschal night of the Resurrection passes through the night of the agony and the tomb - the three intense moments of the Hour of Jesus which his Spirit (and not "the flesh [which] is weak") brings to life in prayer. We must be willing to "keep watch with [him] one hour."14
http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p4s1c3a1.htm
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yup
that's the one I meant.Anyone here practice that?
how would you say it's different from other types of prayer?? How has it helped you? etc.
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Well I don't think you can practice it- you learn how to enter into God's presence through a open and willing heart. God teaches us how do this if He knows we really want it.yup
Anyone here practice that?
how would you say it's different from other types of prayer?? How has it helped you? etc.
And it is by this way, we become praying ppl. It kind of spills over into our lives where all we do is in God's sight in His presence.
It's just letting Him in every part of our life and through out the day.
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Well I don't think you can practice it- you learn how to enter into God's presence through a open and willing heart. God teaches us how do this if He knows we really want it.
And it is by this way, we become praying ppl. It kind of spills over into our lives where all we do is in God's sight in His presence.
It's just letting Him in every part of our life and through out the day.
And it is by this way, we become praying ppl. It kind of spills over into our lives where all we do is in God's sight in His presence.
It's just letting Him in every part of our life and through out the day.
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Well I don't think you can practice it- you learn how to enter into God's presence through a open and willing heart. God teaches us how do this if He knows we really want it.
And it is by this way, we become praying ppl. It kind of spills over into our lives where all we do is in God's sight in His presence.
It's just letting Him in every part of our life and through out the day.
And it is by this way, we become praying ppl. It kind of spills over into our lives where all we do is in God's sight in His presence.
It's just letting Him in every part of our life and through out the day.
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LOL I love these forums...it says the last post in this thread was yesterday by Benedicta, when really it was today, by me. haha.
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Oh I didn't mean 'practice' like: "she practiced her dance for the school show" or something
I meant 'practice' as in...ummm...the other type. lol.I agree with you though
we must have an open and willing heart. I've found that's really the key to a lot of things. If we don't trust God, and aren't surrendered to His will above our own, we won't go very far.that's true
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Alright, I’ll take a shot at it then.
Contemplative prayer is a type of prayer based more on silence and stillness than on verbal assent to God. It often begins with verbal prayers, but ultimately leads to a deeper assurance of the presence of God, and the enjoyment of that presence.
This type of prayer had been practiced by some notable saints of the past, like St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila and best known practitioner of it in the 20th century was Thomas Merton.
In short, contemplative prayer is summed up within the Christian mystical tradition. I prefer to think of it as the introverted form of praying unto the Lord, where other forms are verbal and more physically animated. Lectio Divina is usually a starting point for practicing this kind of prayer.
I came across this quite by accident several years ago. I had been reading through the New Testament and was quite startled at all the references to ‘Christ within you’ found in both St. Paul’s and John’s writings in particular. My favorite verse deals with the fact that the ‘For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Another great passage is found in Romans 8:9-11;
“You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”
It is this realization which gives the Christian the both the motivation, and more importantly, the thirst to pursue a greater union with God. I mean just think about it for a moment, we pray to God, but do we ever truly stop to listen? I believe this is one of the reasons why the Charismatic renewal has been so effective; it is because people want a closer relationship to God.
Though we are commanded to fear God, we are more properly motivated to respond to His love. John 3:16 emphasizes God’s love for the entire world, and the two greatest commandments are also motivated by love. And that is what contemplative prayer is; it is a loving response to God’s love for us. We worship, rest, love God in return. Sometimes words are not enough, our minds go numb with trying to realize how spacious He is, but our hearts and souls find a hiding place within the God who created us out of love and for love. Often, you will find those who practice contemplative prayer to use phrases like bridegroom and bride. There is a sense of desperation involved with it too. For those of us who have been in love, we know the pangs of this kind of misery when the object of our love does not respond to us. And that is what St. John of the Cross was articulating in his classic The Dark Night of the Soul.
Contemplative prayer is a type of prayer based more on silence and stillness than on verbal assent to God. It often begins with verbal prayers, but ultimately leads to a deeper assurance of the presence of God, and the enjoyment of that presence.
This type of prayer had been practiced by some notable saints of the past, like St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila and best known practitioner of it in the 20th century was Thomas Merton.
In short, contemplative prayer is summed up within the Christian mystical tradition. I prefer to think of it as the introverted form of praying unto the Lord, where other forms are verbal and more physically animated. Lectio Divina is usually a starting point for practicing this kind of prayer.
I came across this quite by accident several years ago. I had been reading through the New Testament and was quite startled at all the references to ‘Christ within you’ found in both St. Paul’s and John’s writings in particular. My favorite verse deals with the fact that the ‘For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Another great passage is found in Romans 8:9-11;
“You however are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”
It is this realization which gives the Christian the both the motivation, and more importantly, the thirst to pursue a greater union with God. I mean just think about it for a moment, we pray to God, but do we ever truly stop to listen? I believe this is one of the reasons why the Charismatic renewal has been so effective; it is because people want a closer relationship to God.
Though we are commanded to fear God, we are more properly motivated to respond to His love. John 3:16 emphasizes God’s love for the entire world, and the two greatest commandments are also motivated by love. And that is what contemplative prayer is; it is a loving response to God’s love for us. We worship, rest, love God in return. Sometimes words are not enough, our minds go numb with trying to realize how spacious He is, but our hearts and souls find a hiding place within the God who created us out of love and for love. Often, you will find those who practice contemplative prayer to use phrases like bridegroom and bride. There is a sense of desperation involved with it too. For those of us who have been in love, we know the pangs of this kind of misery when the object of our love does not respond to us. And that is what St. John of the Cross was articulating in his classic The Dark Night of the Soul.
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yeah that's it.
I think it's a gift though. I think don't everyone can just do this... they have to truly be seeking God. and that, to seek him is a gift also.
I think it's a gift though. I think don't everyone can just do this... they have to truly be seeking God. and that, to seek him is a gift also.
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