 The phrase, “I did all the things,” keeps surfacing everywhere. Ironically, the Lord said that only, “one thing is necessary” (The Holy Bible, ESVCE, 2017; Lk. 10:42). In this Scripture, Martha was “burdened with much serving” and “anxious and worried about many things” (Lk. 10: 40-41). She is our mirror in times of desolation and false consolation (Ignatius, SpEx #317, 332). Are we not burdened by the many responsibilities on our never ending “to-do” list that weigh upon tried shoulders in a world spinning faster and faster? Are we not anxious and worried by the trials of life that inevitably visit us while alarming events haunt us? What is this one thing? This one thing is choosing to be with Him, to know His Heart, to enact His Will (as passive or as active as that might be) (Mt. 6: 10).  Dear Friends, Because the question of “how to pray” comes up so often in spiritual direction, I want to offer my own explainer on beginning interior prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of three types of prayer: vocal (memorized prayers, typically prayed out loud), meditative (called discursive or mental, as it prioritizes active thinking), and contemplative (a word with many definitions, though generally passive and heart based) (#2699). Notice the progression. This instruction is for beginners or those moving into meditative prayer since those advanced in prayer need different advice. The word “interior” is preferable to “mental” because it facilitates the transition from head to heart as St. Theresa of Avila’s indicated with her treatise on prayer, The Interior Castle. Prayer is paying attention to God and intentionally spending time with Him. It is a dialogue, or mutual listening and speaking about what matters most. Try 7Rs to begin interior prayer:
|