Mental prayer
Mental prayer is a form of meditational
Definition
Mental prayer is a form of prayer "performed without aid of any particular formula."[1] It is distinguished from vocal prayers, "prayers performed by means of a given formula,"[1] Prayer is mental when the thoughts and affections of the soul are not expressed in a previously determined formula.[web 1]
According to John Hardon, mental prayer is a "form of prayer in which the sentiments expressed are one's own and not those of another person. Mental prayer is accomplished by internal acts of the mind and affections and is either simple meditation or contemplation."[web 2] According to Adolphe Tanquerey, vocal prayer is expressed by words or gestures, while mental prayer "takes place wholly within the soul."[citation needed] According to Mother Teresa, "In vocal prayer we speak to God, in mental prayer he speaks to us. It is then that God pours himself into us."
According to Teresa of Ávila, mental prayer is meditational prayer, in which the person is like a gardener, who, with much labour, draws the water up from the depths of the well to water the plants and flowers.[7] According to Teresa of Avila, mental prayer can proceed by using vocal prayers in order to improve dialogue with God.[8] According to Lehodey, mental prayer can be divided into meditation, more active in reflections, and contemplation, more quiet and gazeful.[9]
Some modern authors recommend that this prayer be called "interior prayer". Jacques Philippe:
It would be better to say interior prayer instead of mental prayer, because in our modern culture, the word "mental" is associated with thoughts – as something cerebral – whereas this form of prayer is more an affair of the heart, instead of reflection. St. Teresa of Avila said that it is not an act of thinking much, but of loving much.
Mental prayer in monastic orders
Teresa of Ávila - nine grades of prayer
Among the
Other monastic orders
From before the middle of the twelfth century, the Carthusians had times set apart for mental prayer. Early in the sixteenth century, the
Practice
Aim
"Friendly dealing" (tratar de amistad) is the literal translation of Teresa's definition of mental prayer, "Tratar de amistad, estando muchas veces tratando a solas con Quien sabemos nos ama.": "Friendly dealing, many times dealing one-on-one with Him whom we know loves us. And this person has a face which we can contemplate, a face that is a singular manifestation of his person." The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes Teresa of Ávila as stating: "Contemplative [sic][note 1] prayer [oración mental] is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us."[11]
Topics for mental prayer
According to Jordan Aumann, "meditation is the reasoned discursus on some supernatural truth, meaning any truth related to God and the spiritual life."[12] Subjects of meditation can be "some scene or mystery from the life of Christ, the life and virtues of Mary or the saints, a particular virtue to be acquired or vice to be uprooted, a truth from dogmatic theology, such as the attributes of God or the indwelling of the Trinity, the prayers and actions of the sacraments, the Mass, and the liturgy."[12]
Method
According to Jordan Aumann, "a basic framework" contains the following three elements: "consideration of some supernatural truth, application of that truth to one's life, and the resolution to do something about it."[13] He gives the following detailed overview of the Carmelite method:[13]
- Introduction
- preparation
- reading
- Meditation
- imaginative representation of material
- reflection or meditation properly so called
- affective colloquy or conversation with God
- Conclusion
- thanksgiving
- oblation
- petition
Duration
The recommended length of time per day varies from "a few minutes" (FriarsMinor.org), "30 minutes" (Eugene Boylan), "several minutes" (Josemaria Escriva), "one hour" (Francis of Sales), "minimum of half an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament" (Alphonsus Liguori).
See also
- Centering prayer
- Jesus Prayer
- Interior life
- Morning Offering
- Thanksgiving after Communion
- Rosary
- Spiritual reading
- Angelus
- Memorare
- Personal relationship with Jesus Christ
- Visit to the Blessed Sacrament
- Examination of conscience
- Power of Christian prayer
Notes
- ^ Mental prayer, "oración mental," is meditative prayer, not contemplative prayer; contemplation follows after it.[4][5][6] Wallenfang & Wallenfang (2021): "The second stage of prayer is called mental prayer or the prayer of meditation."
References
- ^ a b c d Simler (2009).
- ^ a b Liguori (1759).
- ^ a b "The Practice of Mental Prayer". Catholicism.org. 2005-03-16. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
- ^ a b Wallenfang & Wallenfang (2021), p. "B. Mental Prayer or the Prayer of meditation".
- ^ a b Hollenback (1996), p. 535.
- ^ a b Wyhe (2008), p. 174.
- ^ Lehodey (1912), p. 13.
- ^ Teresa of Avila (2007), p. 141.
- ^ Lehodey (1912), p. 5.
- ^ St. Teresa's Nine Grades of Prayer
- ^ Catechismus of the Catholic Church, CCC, 2709.
- ^ a b Jordan Aumann, Spiritual Theology, p.224
- ^ a b Jordan Aumann, Spiritual Theology, p.225
- ^ Francis of Sales, Practice of Mental Prayer
Sources
- Printed sources
- Hollenback, Jess Byron (1996), Mysticism: Experience, Response, and Empowerment, Penn State Press
- Lehodey, Domitry Vitalis (1912). The Ways of Mental Prayer. Dublin: M.H.Gill.
- ISBN 978-1-60206-261-0.
- Wallenfang, Donald; Wallenfang, Megan (2021), Shoeless: Carmelite Spirituality in a Disquieted World, Wipf and Stock Publishers
- Wyhe, Cordula van (2008), Female Monasticism in Early Modern Europe: An Interdisciplinary View, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd
- Web-sources
- ^ Leen, Edward, Progress Through Mental Prayer
- ^ "Dictionary : MENTAL PRAYER". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
External links
- Catechism of the Catholic Church on Contemplative Prayer
- St. John of the Cross on Spiritual Poverty, Carmelite website Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- St. Alphonsus: Master of Prayer by Margaret M. O'Shea, IHM
- Interview with Jacques Philippe
- Spiritual Exercises. "Louis J. Puhl, SJ Translation - The Spiritual Exercises | St. Ignatius of Loyola". Retrieved 2017-07-16.