As Lent approaches, the next few postings will be devoted to praying in a way that draws its inspiration from St. Ignatius and his direction for contemplation. I have structured the prayers in the form of a dialogue between the Soul and the Guiding Spirit. Following the dialogue there is a foot note section with additional suggestions.
Dialogue
Good Spirit: Come with me now, I will lead you into the wilderness of your soul. I will show you how to distinguish from the many voices, the one that is mine, from the one that comes from the mouth of the Deceiver. My voice calls you to gather with me that I might lead you safely to the Father. The Deceiver has but one purpose, to scatter you, to drive you off into the wilderness, where you may easily be devoured.
Soul: Grant me a listening heart, that I may hear and learn all that you wish to teach me. Give me courage to face these things of which you speak. Reveal to me how these deceitful voices have seduced my heart in order to harm me.
Good Spirit: Come with me now, take up the scriptures, listen intently, as you hear my voice responding to the carefully crafted arguments of the deceiver.
- Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.The devil said to him,“If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” (Luke 4:1)
Good Spirit: To those souls who are striving to follow my voice, the Deceiver will not use arguments that are blatantly false and easily detected. He begins with a proposition that is partly true, that sounds quite reasonable. [Fasting makes you hungry, you need food to survive, God does not want you to perish from hunger, how can you serve Him if you are starving? Indeed, all your physical needs are part of being human. Satisfying your needs simply fulfills God's design for your humanity. They are all good, and more is better.]
And so the argument goes, failing however, to mention that LIFE is more than the body alone. I will show you how this argument appeals to three characteristics found within every person. There is the powerful instinct within the human person to survive. There is human intelligence which enables one to devise ever more clever ways to control their security. And there is the pride of life that convinces one that all of this is their god-given right to have; and so you must pursue them.
Let us begin, but first you must find a place of solitude, away from all the distracting voices that fill your life. This will be difficult, surrounded as you are by so many instruments of sound. I will let you seek out a place for prayer. Set a time and go there, and simply experience the silence for a time. Quiet your soul there, and I will come to your quiet.
..................................... footnotes .....................................
Structure of this approach to prayer:
- PLACE: choosing a place with a measure of quiet and solitude.
- PRESENCE: entering this prayer expecting to be guided by Grace.
- PETITION: asking for the graces that will make this prayer fruitful.
- PASSAGE: preparing a passage of scripture for reflection.
- PRAYER: entering the passage, looking, listening, imagining you are there, focusing on various persons, collecting your thoughts, feelings, reaction.
- PRAISE and thanks: closing with a prayer formed in your own words, as one speaking face to face to another; expressing your gratitude for the blessings and guidance received in this prayer time.
Refer to the page Ignatius Way of Prayer.
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