I’ve all the time thought-about myself horrible at Ignatian contemplation. That’s a type of prayer that invitations one to place oneself in a scene from the Bible. In the Spiritual Exercises, Ignatian contemplation is inspired because the retreatant travels by means of the Gospel tales throughout Week Two. We are invited to interact all 5 senses as we place ourselves in the scene. Losing self in the story, we’re in a position to hear what the Holy Spirit wishes to inform us.
In the previous when I’ve tried this technique of prayer, I discovered it fairly tough. I might get misplaced attempting to keep in line with the small print of the Gospel tales as they had been written. I might query every time my thoughts tried to add in particulars that weren’t there. I might get annoyed after I can be drawn out of the scene as a result of I got here throughout one thing that didn’t fairly make sense. I might get so annoyed after I couldn’t scent or style or really feel inside a spot I had by no means really been. This frustration led me to abandon this type of prayer.
When I acquired to the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises this 12 months, nonetheless, I used to be inspired by my religious director to attempt Ignatian contemplation once more. At first, I used to be resistant. “I’ve tried this many times,” I mentioned. “I just can’t do it.”
Upon additional dialog with my director, I noticed I may give myself permission to make just a few changes. So this time, I allowed myself to:
- Write out my imaginings. I wrestle with sitting nonetheless in the quiet and considering a scene, however in some way after I place pen to paper it’s simpler for me to seize the sights and sounds and really feel of a narrative.
- Let my coronary heart transfer past the Gospel itself. I wanted not to get tripped up by the small print. After all, Ignatian contemplation is meant to give me perception into what the Holy Spirit is attempting to inform me proper now in my current scenario, which suggests the Holy Spirit might information me past the small print captured by the Gospel writers.
- Ask the questions as they arose. Since prayer is basically a dialog between God and me, it’s OK if I’ve questions as I observe Ignatian contemplation. It’s even OK if I pause the scene as I might my TV, in order that I can ask God for clarification.
- Let God meet me in the messiness of my try. There is nobody proper means to observe Ignatian contemplation. My try at this type of prayer shouldn’t be being graded or analyzed. God is prepared to meet me in my try and, I consider, appreciates the distinctive means I strategy this type of prayer.
During this Advent season, we are going to hear the Gospel tales of the Annunciation and the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, after which at Christmas, we’ll hear of the beginning of Jesus in the manger. These tales are unimaginable ones to begin with in attempting Ignatian contemplation. Feel free to give your self permission, as I did, to make Ignatian contemplation your personal. You could be shocked on the graces you’ll obtain once you do.
Photo by Bicanski on Pixnio.