Ignatian prayer can change how you approach your communion with God for good.
It was developed by St. Ignatius Loyola in the sixteenth century and embraced by the Jesuits and other believers.
Ignatius believed that our feelings lead us toward God, not away from Him, and that our joy, sadness, or distress should all be a part of prayer.
Follow these 6 tips to implement one of the richest contemplative traditions of Christianity!
1. What Makes Ignatian Prayer Different
Traditional prayer typically means that you speak words toward God and leave space for silence.
Ignatian prayer makes you become more active; it invites your imagination, emotions, and personal experience directly into it.
They’re not something you should suppress while praying, but the opposite! You should honor your immediate feelings and allow God to see them.
Ignatius trusted human feelings, believing that they were 神様‘s way of directly communicating with us.
This kind of attitude makes for a very personal prayer.
The prayer is shaped by who you are, enriched with your honest feelings, and that’s exactly where its power lies.
2. Daily Examen
If you’re new to Ignatian prayer, the Daily Examen is the best way to begin because it’s brief and practical.
Essentially, it’s a review of your day. Ideally, you’d do it in the evening, when you have peace.
The point of the examen is to try to find God in all the ordinary hours you just lived through. Were there any lucky coincidences? Were you taught a lesson?
Did something make you emotional or touched?
The Daily Examen includes five steps. First, you become still and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your reflection. Second, be genuinely grateful for all the good things that happened to you today.
Third, review your day by the hour, reflecting on your actions and feelings. Fourth, acknowledge any mistakes you might have made and ask for forgiveness.
And finally, be hopeful for tomorrow.
Done daily, this practice helps you find God in everything you do. Stay consistent!
3. Try Imaginative Contemplation
This is probably the most popular method of Ignatian prayer. It might seem a bit unusual, but it truly works!
Take your Bible and choose a specific scene from any of the Gospels; choose any of Christ’s miracles, and read the text once or twice.
Then, set the Bible down and close your eyes.
From there, you’re going to rebuild the scene in your mind as though you’re watching a movie.
And don’t just stick to the visuals; use all of your senses! Try to imagine the sensations, the smells, the taste of the water turned wine, etc.
Go into the details, like the background, the noise, the people, and anything else you can think of.
The point of this method is to truly feel present with Jesus.
In that moment, notice what draws your attention the most. That’s God speaking to you.
4. Be Aware of Your Feelings
One of the most important things St. Ignatius thought was that our feelings aren’t a distraction to avoid during prayer.
He thought they were incredibly significant and that we should engage with them.
If you’re going to try Ignatian prayer, it’s important that you’re able to recognize your feelings clearly and momentarily.
This is what St. Ignatius called the discernment of spirits.
そこには 慰め, which brings us feelings of peace, warmth, clarity, and joy, and he believed that they move us toward God.
しかしだ、 desolation pulls us away from Him, and it’s characterized by restlessness, confusion, emptiness, etc.
So, when you’re done praying, ask yourself how it made you feel.
There’s no need to judge yourself based on how you feel; it’s only important to be aware of it.
Consolation often confirms you’re moving in the right direction, while desolation points to something that you still need to address.
5. End Every Prayer with a Colloquy
Ignatian prayer doesn’t end with amen. You actually close each one with something that’s called a colloquy, which basically means a friendly conversation.
After your meditation or Examen, try speaking to Jesus directly.
Speak to Him like you would with someone you trust and feel comfortable with. Don’t bother with formality, just share what’s in your heart.
Say what confuses you, what moved you, what scares you, what you want…
The Colloquy helps you achieve a genuine relationship with God. It makes you feel fulfilled and light, as though you’ve actually been able to get things off your chest.
6. Learn the Classic Ignatian Prayers
While Ignatian prayer is meant to be personal, it can be difficult for beginners. You might feel silly trying to speak directly to God if you’re used to having structured prayer.
だから concrete prayers that you can learn do exist.
について Suscipe is among the most famous. It’s a prayer of complete surrender.
について Prayer for Generosity is also attributed to St. Ignatius, and it asks God to teach us generosity and servitude.
These prayers are meant to teach us how to eventually make our communion with God more personal.
A little Aquarius, devoted to writing and embroidery. Through my writing, I hope to empower readers to align with their true selves and navigate life’s mysteries with confidence.