Posted by Wayne on September 28, 19100 at 17:06:12:
In Reply to: Re: Centering Prayer and Contemplation posted by Anne Ward on November 01, 1998 at 13:57:37:
: Good afternoon...and Diane, wouldn't you know it...I wasn't sure how to use this and the followup was a repeat of your message and I am still not sure how this works.
: I, too, no longer practice a pure C.P. I call my whole prayer time 'eclectic' for it contains elements from traditional, evangelical, desert fathers, and meditation/contemplation. I hope that I can explain it so that you can understand.
: I do have set periods of prayer and they do vary but always begin with meditation...I begin with the words of the jesus prayer: Lord Jesus, have mercy, on me, a sinner. this becomes shortened to one sacred word but then before long, it is just silence. Just deep silence in which my intention is to be with our Lord asking for nothing but His presence, His will, His love in all that I do.
: Following this, I use the Lord's Prayer as a guideline for praising and honoring our Father, for offering prayers of petition but mostly of intercession, and this continues until the end of the prayer. I must say that interspersed throughout is the use of my prayer language, as charismatics call it, as seems appropriate....and even during this period there can be extensive periods of silence. Silence in just being with Him again.
: Yet, each prayer time has that guideline but it can vary---but always begins with meditation/contemplation, preceded by verbally and spiritually putting on the armor of God, which I feel is a must prior to prayer. sometimes I say the Rosary as a means of intercession and on recollecting the life of our Lord in love and adoration; at other times I do become engaged in what, for some, is called warfare. As I said, it is very eclectic.
: But one thing is always certain, as it is with Diane, ---this is giving myself totally to Him for His glory and service. I give Him all that I am. And pray that in all of my minutes I am guided by His commandment to love Him first and to love others.
: And, Diane, you and I share readings for I have been reading St. Theresa's WAY OF PERFECTION, find St. Johns Spiritual Canticle to be awesome.
: I will close for now simply to say again, that my prayer life is very eclectic...has no name except prayer time! It is also when I can go and have quality time with Him.
: Blessings, and grace,
: Anne
I saw your web site. How long have you been in CP and contemplation? Would you define contemplation for me? Who are some people you read on these subjects? Thanks for your time.