Prayer
“The desire to pray is already a prayer” Saying of the Desert Fathers
According to St Teresa of Avila, “Prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”
Personal prayer can take many forms,
VOCAL, including conversational prayer (talking to God as one would a close friend), traditional prayers, prayers of thanksgiving and intercession,
MEDITATION, a discursive reflection on Scriptures, Sacred Art or Icons using Lectio Divina, or Ignatian (Imaginative) Contemplation,
CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER, a loving silent attentiveness at the deepest level of our inner being to the God who dwells within.
Prayer also has a communal dimension– ‘where two or three are gathered in my name I am there” – all forms of meditation can also be done in group settings.
Prayer is also ecclesial – the formal gathering of the community to celebrate the Sacraments, Mass or the Divine Office.
For centuries, the Church used art to inspire and instruct. The method used in Lectio Divina can also be used with Art. Rather than reading text, we look at the picture or icon, then mediate, pray and contemplate.
You can use these links to explore this further:
Prayer windows Radiant Light Praying with art
To explore the Spirituality and Prayer of different Traditions in the Church use the links below:
Bendectine
Carmelites
Franciscans
Jesuits
Suggested links to ‘Prayer’
Lectio Divina with children Pray as you go Sacred Space
Living Prayer Centre Daily 3 minute retreat
Some Resources from the CTS Deeper Christianity Series
