ST. ALPHONSUS’
METHOD OF MENTAL PRAYER
Mental prayer has three moments:
1) the preparation,
2) the meditation, and
3) the conclusion.
1) The Preparation:
· Time: Set apart a specific amount of time when you are going to pray, e.g. 15 minutes in the evening. Don’t make it too long or you’ll find yourself avoiding prayer.
· Place: If possible, find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed.
· Posture: Relax and calm down. Sit or kneel or use whatever is your best posture for prayer.
· Start Praying: Make short darts of prayer. Acts of faith: “God, I believe that You are present here.” Acts of humility: “Lord, I find it hard to pray. Help me!” Acts of contrition: “Lord, I’m sorry for my sins.” Ask God for light. Ask Mary for help. Ask the saints and angels for help in this time of prayer. Say a Hail Mary.
2) The Meditation:
This is the main part of your time of prayer. Use a Bible (e.g. a favorite passage), a prayer or a book or whatever helps to get you reflecting.
Ask yourself questions: “What have I just read? What is it saying to me? How have I acted about this in the past? What do I want to do about it in the future?”
“St. Francis de Sales said to do what the bees do. They stop on a flower for as long as they find honey on it and then pass on to another.” St. Teresa of Avila said: “Imitate the pigeon that first drinks and then raises its eyes to heaven.”
St. Alphonsus stresses that the key to mental prayer is when our thinking or reflecting arouses our feelings and we are lead to prayer. He says, “It should be remembered that the advantage of mental prayer consists not so much in meditating as in making affections, petitions, and resolutions: these are the three fruits of meditation.”
· Affections: “My God I thank you for the graces you’ve given me.” “Lord, I love you. I trust you. I need you.”
· Petitions: “Lord, forgive me my sins.” “Lord, I accept this cross; help me to carry it.” “Lord, let me walk in your light.”
· Resolutions: These should be short, specific and to the point. “Lord, help me to be patient with _____.” “Lord, every time I go there, the same thing happens. Give me strength to avoid going to ____.”
3) The Conclusion:
Take the last few moments of your time of prayer to wrap things up.
Thank God for the lights and insights and inspirations you received. Promise to keep the resolutions you came up with. Ask God the Father for help. Ask Jesus and Mary for the grace to keep your resolutions. Pray for the souls in purgatory, sinners, the sick, and all those who need your prayers.
