Christian Meditative Prayer
 
"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God".
It involves not only speaking but above all listening.
 
Christian Tradition (cf Catechism of the Catholic Church 2699 ff)
distinguishes three principal 'ways' of prayer: vocal, meditative
and contemplative prayer. Here we are concerned with meditation.
 
"Meditation is above all a quest. The mind seeks to understand the
why and how of Christian life, in order to adhere and respond to
what the Lord is asking" (CCC 2705).
 
There are many methods of meditation. A method is only a guide, yet
it is important to have some guide, since a haphazard approach is
likely to soon lead to discouragement and abandonment of prayer.
The method suggested here is fundamentally the method proposed by
St.Ignatius.
 
At the beginning of a time of prayer (15 minutes is the minimum
time you will need) it is necessary to cut out interference and
'get on God's wavelength'.
This double movement of the soul may be achieved by:
 
(1) becoming quiet, setting aside other concerns while, for exam-
ple, centering your senses and your mind on some element of nature
(a tree, a leaf, the "sounds" of silence...), and
 
(2) becoming aware of God's presence; this may involve something
like pausing a few steps from the place of your prayer, asking
yourself what you are about to do and who you are about to talk to,
and making acts of faith, humility, hope, love & thanksgiving to
God who is present and attentive to you.
 
(1) is an exercise of recollection; it is not prayer; (2) is
already prayer, and if or when you are prompted to prolong any of
these "acts of the presence of God", you should do so without being
anxious to move ahead. You could profitably spend the entire time
of prayer in what is normally the threshold of meditative prayer.
 
 
The following might in practice be the way you would begin a time
of mental prayer (meditation or contemplation):
 
1     Recollect myself while standing a couple of steps away from
where I will pray.
 
2     Kneel (at least internally) to adore God who is present.
 
3     Make an act of faith in his presence, his power, his great
love for me.
 
4     An act of humility: how small and unworthy I am before him;
of gratitude, because he has invited me to be with him;
and a prayer for assistance: "Lord, help me to remain in your
presence in the least unworthy way possible throughout these coming
minutes"
 
5     Acts of love and trust
 
6     "Lord, I offer you this time and all my efforts, in union with
the sacrifice of your son, Jesus, for your Kingdom" [or for a spe-
cific intention].
 
7     "Grant me the grace of [whatever you particularly aim to 
achieve in this meditation]"
 
8     Ask the Holy Spirit for light and strength
 
9     Ask the Blessed Virgin Mary for her company and assistance
 
10    Engage my imagination by making a "composition of place"
 
11    Begin to reflect on the first point I have proposed to
meditate upon today [see 'Subjects and points for meditation'
below]
 
12    Conclude each point addressing myself to one or more of the
Divine Persons [and often to Mary also].
 
13    At the conclusion of the time of meditation, examine briefly
how I have done in order to resolve on any useful improvements for
the next time; and propose a way of putting into practice today
what I have learned from the meditation.

 
Subjects and points for meditation:

      You should always have determined what the subject of your
meditation is to be before formally initiating your time of prayer.

      "Christian prayer tries above all to meditate on the mysteries
of Christ" (CCC 2708).

      To assist oneself in doing so it is usually advisable to have
something (brief) to read: from Scripture (particularly the
Gospels), good books of spirituality or other sources (check out
CCC 2705 on this).

      By confronting what we read with ourselves and our lives we
are able to make it our own.

      We should open our hearts without reserve seeking light from
God: "Lord, what do you want me to do?" (cf CCC 2706).