Prayer and Meditation

After frequent participation in the Sacraments, prayer has contributed the most to my spiritual growth.  I did not really know what it meant to have a personal relationship with God until I cultivated a daily commitment to prayer.

The first fruits of my prayer were an increase in virtue and a decrease in sin.  It has been slow but steady progress, a little at a time.  From day to day it is hard to notice the difference, but comparing where I am now to where I was six months ago is dramatically different.  I also noticed that I have a sense of peace and resignation that I didn’t have before.

Recently, I’ve found that my prayer has become much more than the time in the morning dedicated to it.  Every moment has become a prayer as I have become more aware of the constant presence of God throughout the day.  Recollection of His presence helps me to remember to thank Him for the blessings, to offer up the sufferings, and to avoid sin.  It’s easier to behave myself when I know He’s right there, watching and listening.  Knowing that I have the indwelling Trinity affects what I think about, since He knows all my thoughts and what is in my heart.  Recalling His presence has helped to stop sin where it begins: at the thought.  I’ve found that the more I pray, the less effort I have to put into recalling His presence.  Over time this recollection has become automatic and effortless.

I’ve been using the simple meditation method explained by Father Thomas Dubay in hs book Prayer Primer: Igniting a Fire Within.   As part of my morning routine, I started with 10 minutes at a time and have worked my way up to 30-45 minutes.

Here’s what Fr. Dubay suggests for meditation:

1. Find a quiet place.

2. Recollection of the presence of God: this does not mean you need to try to “feel” God’s presence; just acknowledge with faith that He is there.

3. Input from Scripture or other spiritual reading. (I started by using My Daily Bread for this part of my meditation.)

4. Response: conversing with the Lord about it; adoring, loving, praising, thanking, and sorrowing with inner, quiet words.

5. Resolution: determine to do something specific beginning today about what we have been pondering; resolving to change and grow so that our actions may match our prayer.

I recommend reading Fr. Dubay’s book for a more thorough explanation, plus information on contemplation, which is where you’re headed when you commit to daily meditation.