THREE METHODS OF PRAYER
Although less well known than the imaginative gospel contemplation or the 'examen', the Spiritual Exercises contain three other methods of prayer.
1. The first method is a meditation on life and on what, in the day of Ignatius, were well-known lists such as The Ten Commandments, The Seven Deadly Sins, The three Powers of the Soul and The Five Senses; lists that people would easily be able to call to mind;
2. The second method consist of taking a common prayer a word or phrase and reflecting on it, much like lectio divina.
3. The third method involves the taking of a word at a time from a common prayer and hold each word for the space of a deep breath.
1. I begin by quietening down, perhaps using a stilling exercise and dedicating the time to God.
(Interestingly Ignatius in the Exercises suggest this prayer could be made seated or walking. Maybe it could be used in the gym, jogging or on the train to work.)2. I ask for what I desire: this could be the grace to know my failings with regards the 10 commandments and the grace to better live them in the future.
3. I begin by considering each Commandment in turn and how I have managed to fulfill it. I then consider how I might have failed.
For a time I go through each of the ten Commandments. However if a particular commandment doesn't trouble me, then I can move on.
4. When I come across any faults, I ask for forgiveness from God and say the 'Our Father'.
5. At the end of the consideration of the 10 commandments I have an conversation with the Lord about what I have just pondered.
1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself an idol; you shall not bow down and worship them
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Keep holy the sabbath day and do no work.
5. Honour your father and mother.
6. You shall not kill
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
10. You shall not covert your neighbour's house, wife, slave, ox or donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbour.
Seven Cardinal Sins The preparation is the same as for the prayer on the Ten Commandments.
However, instead of pondering on the Commandments I should keep, I ponder on the vices I should avoid. It may be more fruitful to consider the seven virtues that are the counterparts to the vices and ponder on how better to live them.
I end up with a conversation with the Lord on the virtues and vices in my life.
Seven Cardinal Sins
Seven Cardinal Virtues
Pride
Humility
Anger
Forgiveness
Envy
Generosity
Lust
Chastity
Gluttony
Temperance
Averice
Charity
Sloth
Diligence
Five Senses of the body
I consider the five bodily senses and how they can all be used for good.
I ponder on how I can imitate Christ or perhaps his mother Mary in the use of the senses.
The final conversation could be with Mary or Jesus.
Sight
Hearing
Touch
Smell
Taste
Three Powers of the Soul
The three powers of the soul are not well known today but were in the 16th Century.
They are 'memory, understanding and will'.I begin the prayer with the same preparations as with the 10 commandments.
I ponder on how I have used my memory, my power of understanding and my will-power to do good, to follow more closely the Lord.
I end the prayer with the same familiar conversation with the Lord as with the 10 Commandments prayer.
Memory in the sense of 'bringing to mind' or awareness of what is; The human quality is that we can remember things, we can learn from the past.
Understanding: once we have become of aware of what is, we can judge what is good and healthy, what is right and consoling for us. We can understand ourselves and others better.
Will: Finally, we can decide what to do. After having brought to mind what has gone on around us, and within us, after having understood motivations, what is good and what is not, I can then decide to act upon what I have learned using my will.
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