Do you have a rich inner life with the ability to visualize and daydream? In that case, praying with Scripture may well suit you.
I suppose there are as many definitions of prayer as there are people. We all have an idea of what prayer is about. We can divide prayer is corporate or personal prayer using the old and trusted prayers taught by parents, the Church and maybe at school.
We can separate prayers in other ways; for example, there is free expression, liturgical prayers, prayer with art forms, and also praying with Scripture.
Prayer is a vast subject. Many people think prayer is talking to God or thinking about the God ‘out there’. Prayer is, above all personal, and it starts with you; with your reality and experience. Prayer is about a relationship, similar to a relationship between people.
Our deepest self is within us, and that is where we are meeting the God within.
St Ignatius would agree with that notion. He says: “God speaks to us in our deepest human experiences, through our feelings, desires thoughts and ideas”. We give meaning to our world through thoughts, feelings and emotions. Our outer life is filled with demands of work, children, chores etc. We talk about a rich inner life; this is where we reflect and meditate, where we mull things over and use our imagination. This nourishes our creative spirit. And probably our sense of well-being.
St Francis of Assisi recreated the first Nativity scene in 1223. Although Ignatian Spirituality is has made the use of imagination popular, it was St Francis who understood that ordinary people relating to the Holy Family was a powerful experience that was deeply meaningful to the people of his time.
Ignatian Contemplation uses a passage from Scripture and invites you into the scene using your imagination. To make use of all your senses. What do you hear? Who is speaking? Are the conversations light-hearted, or is there confusion? What other noises might there be in the background? Seeing, what colours stand out, who is present, what is their mood like? What about fragrance? What can you smell? Is it pleasant? What do you taste? Feel, can you imagine what the surroundings feel like, the coarseness of the garments maybe? Depending on the scene, you might be able to identify a variety of things you can engage with.
If you are ready to try this approach, I suggest you chose a story from the gospels where you meet with Jesus and others. For example, the woman at the well in John’s gospel.
As you begin, place yourself in the presence of God. Then think about and clarify in your mind what your hopes are of this encounter.
Read the passage slowly, so you are familiar with the scene, become a spectator. When you reread it and remember the conversations, the mood and the scene you place yourself within. At the end, you may want to have a conversation with Jesus.
You may wonder if the thoughts and conversation are simply a result of your imagination? A Jesuit priest told me once that if God can speak to us through other people and situations, surely God can use your imagination too!
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