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OPINIONS
John Patrick Grace: Some insights into contemplative prayer, for those who dare
The lessons in this piece come from a workshop on contemplative prayer I recently attended at Blessed John XXIII Pastoral Center in Charleston, led by Fr. Bill Petro of the West Virginia Institute for Spirituality. Those who profess to "never need prayer" might learn something anyway, so I hope you'll keep reading.
Start with your breathing. Focus on it, as we so rarely do. And with each breath, breathe -- or think -- a sacred name. My personal favorite is "Yeshua," the Aramaic name of Jesus.
Other good "sacred words" might be: Yahweh, Spirit, Messiah, Savior.
Close your eyes now and just breathe. With each intake you might in fact whisper one word, such as "Yahweh," and with each exhale you might whisper another, such as "Spirit."
Do this for three or four minutes. Then imagine that an elevator arrives just in front of you. The door opens, and you feel an invitation to enter. Get on the elevator and let the door close.
The elevator will go up. Feel the movement as it takes you from the ground-level floor up to six, nine, fifteen, and even higher. On a very high floor -- you choose the number -- the elevator stops and you are invited to exit.
There waiting for you is a heavenly figure. You may want to say "Jesus," or "Moses," or an angel or a favorite saint.
What will you say to the heavenly figure? That is entirely up to you. Say whatever you like but do enter into a conversation. Listen carefully and the heavenly figure will have something to say to you in return.
The above exercise is an entrypoint into contemplative prayer.
Here are some understandings that may be key to the success of your participation in this exercise: It is God who initiates prayer, not we. What we do when we pray is respond to God's invitation.
The deepest kind of prayer occurs when we experience that it is not we who are praying but God who is praying through us. All true prayer involves union with God, and contemplative prayer represents a high form of that union.
Not having an agenda for prayer can be good. Rather than a laundry list of requests that you hope God will accomplish for you, start with an emptiness inside of you waiting to be filled, or a yearning for an experience of God's love.
Having sacred music playing softly in the background may help. So may the sounds of nature in your own garden or yard. Pure silence is also good.
Contemplative prayer can take any number of forms. Another is an ancient monastic practice called "Lectio Divina." This involves choosing a short scripture passage and reading it slowly three times, each time separated by a meditative silence.
The first reading is meant to "open" the scripture to you, like opening a door.
Next, reread the passage almost as if you were consuming a meal. "Chew" each word, turn it over in your mouth, savor it.
Finally, ponder the words in the passage that stood out to you as you read. Sit with those words. Let them marinate in your spirit, merge with your being. As you let the words find a home in you, rest in God. Repeat the words again with deep thankfulness.
Bring your contemplative prayer to a halt and go forth to live the words you have contemplated.
John Patrick Grace formerly covered the Vatican for The Associated Press and later was a religion editor for The Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record. He is currently a book editor and publisher based in Huntington.
