HOME SOME THEMES IN ENGLISH SPIRITUAL
EXERCISES VIA INTERNET
SIX STEPS OF PRAYING REVIEW OF PRAYER DISTRACTION EXAMINATION OF
CONSCIENCE
Giuse Phạm Thanh Liêm, S.J.
According to Saint Ignatius, there are six steps to accomplish a prayer.
Saint Ignatius wrote in his book entitle Spiritual Exercises: “I will stand for the space of an Our Father, a step or two before the place where I am to meditate or contemplate, and with my mind raised on high, consider that God our Lord beholds me, etc. Then I will make an act of reverence or humility” [75].
Thus in this step, let us be aware of God’s presence around us, beside us, in our heart and in our soul. Then, give Him an act of reverence.
Saint Ignatius wrote: “In the preparatory prayer I will beg God our Lord for grace that all my intentions, actions, and operations may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty” [46].
In this step, let us ask God to grant us the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, so that the Holy Spirit sanctify us, make us belong to God, make all our intention, all our thought, all our activities serve God and glorify Him.
Saint Ignatius wrote: “This is a mental representation of the place. … The representation will consist in seeing in imagination the material place where the object is that we wish to contemplate. I said the material place, for example, the temple, or the mountain where Jesus or His Mother is, according to the subject matter of the contemplation” [47].
If it is difficult for you to do a mental representation, you can read slowly the paragraph of Scripture for this prayer.
Saint Ignatius wrote: “I will ask God our Lord for what I want and desire” [48]. Therefore, we will ask for the appropriate grace that depends on each theme of prayer.
A retreat director may suggest some points to help a retreatant to pray. It is possible to have many points, but the retreatant doesn’t need to finish them all. Retreatant would use as many points as he needs unless retreat director advises alternatively [2. 228].
When finishing a point you should speak with God as needed, you don’t need to wait for finishing all the points suggested. Points are not the aim of a prayer, they are suggested to help you to pray or to have colloquy with God; therefore, if you encounter God, please put the points away.
A very important step in prayer is the colloquy; therefore, we must reserve enough time for this step. Saint Ignatius wrote: “The colloquy is made by speaking exactly as one friend speaks to another, or as a servant speaks to a master, now asking him for a favor, now blaming himself for some misdeed, now making known his affairs to him, and seeking advice in them. Close with an Our Father” [54].
We need to know that the above steps are only means to help us to pray. Therefore, if we have already met God, then these steps are no longer necessary.
HOME SOME THEMES IN ENGLISH SPIRITUAL
EXERCISES VIA INTERNET
SIX STEPS OF PRAYING REVIEW OF PRAYER DISTRACTION EXAMINATION OF
CONSCIENCE
Best wishes to you!
liempham