The Prayer Pack

Allofusprayindifferentwaysatdifferentstagesinourlives.SometimesourwayofprayingchangesaswegrowinourrelationshipwithGod.

‘ImaginativePrayer’or‘ImaginativeContemplation’isfrequentlyassociatedwithSt.Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), as it is oneof the suggestedways of prayingfound in his Spiritual Exercises. But imaginative Prayer was certainly practicedlongbeforethe16thcentury.

One of the principal methods (forms) of prayer in the Spiritual Exercises isimaginative contemplation/reflection, when we are personally invited to enterfullyintothescenesfromtheGospels.IthasthereforebecomewidelyknownasIgnatian contemplation. Thiswayof prayingwith the imagination canbea veryeffectivewayofgettingtoknowJesusmoreintimatelyandlearningtofollowhimmoreclosely.

Some Biblical texts that can be used for practicing this way of praying:Mat8:23-27and14:22-33;Mark10:46-52;Luke5:1-11and19:1-10;John4:1-42,12:1-8and21:1-19.

Booksuggestions

Gallagher,Timothy(2008)MeditationandContemplation,AnIgnatianGuidetoPrayingwithScripture,CrossroadPublishingCompany.Lonsdale,David(2000)EyestoSee,EarstoHear,IntroductiontoIgnatianSpirituality,Darton,Longman&ToddLtd.

Websiteswww.pray-as-you-go.orgwww.sacredspace.ie

Frontcoverimage:www.Pixabay.com

PrayingwiththeBible

Usingyourimaginationinprayer

“Glorybetohim,whosepowerworkingwithinuscandoinfinitelymorethanwecanaskorimagine.”

Eph3:20

InimaginativecontemplationweenterintoalifeeventorstorypassageofScripturebywayofimagination,makinguseofalloursenses.

TheSpiritofJesusguidesandteachesus,enablingustoletourpresentrealitymeettherealityandtruthoftheGospel.WebecomepresenttothemysteriesofChrist’slife.

Chooseapassage.Takeafewminutestogetintoarelaxedattentiveness.

Readthepassageafewtimestofamiliariseyourselfwithit.

RememberthatthesewordsareGod’swords,andthattheyspeaktoyou,hereandnow.

Putthepassagetoonesideandimaginethattheeventsdescribedinthepassagearehappeningnow,rightbeforeyou:Youseethepeople,theplace,thebuildings;youfeelthebreeze,thesunshine;youhearthesounds,takeinthesmellsandthetaste–don’tworryaboutwhatbubblestothesurface.

Tryandpictureyourselfpresentinthatplaceandtime.Takepartinwhatishappening:Youareinit,talkingtoJesus.Thisisyour

prayer.Don’tworryifyourimaginationtakesyouawayfromthedetailsofthepassage,thehistoricalorgeographicalfacts.

Whateverhappensduringthiscontemplation,spendalittletimeattheendofitbeingwithGod,Jesus,theHolySpirit….asyouwouldwithagoodfriend:sometimestalking,sometimeslistening,sometimesbeingtogetherinsilence.

Speakfromtheheart,simplyandhonestly.

Don’tloseheartifyoufindyourselfdistractedorunabletoimagine.Keepreturningtothepassageifyouneedto,gentlybringingyourselfbacktoit.Itmayneedpractice!

Ifnothingseemstobehappeningevenafterseveralattempts,dostaywithit.SpeaktoGodaboutyourfeelings.Rememberthat‘nothinghappening’timescanalsobesignificant.

Whenyou’reready,endyourprayerbysayingthankyouorusingwordsthatarefamiliar,suchastheLord’sPrayer(OurFather)–whicheverfeelsrightandcomfortable.