Contents

Breath Prayer

Centering Prayer

Labyrinth

Lectio Divina

Prayer of Examen

Welcoming Prayer 

 

Breath Prayer

Background:

Probably the best known breath prayer is called the “Jesus Prayer” or “Prayer of the Heart”: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” This prayer originated within the Christian tradition around the sixth century. A great deal has been written about it. It became popular in the Christian church in the East during the 14th and 19th centuries, especially in Russia and Greece. The traditional form has been abbreviated to “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy” and even “Jesus, mercy.”

The breath prayer is a good example of “praying without ceasing” as St. Paul admonished us to do, and has the potential to become as natural as breathing. It is intended to be a very short prayer of praise and petition, just six to eight syllables.

The praise is expressed by calling on one of the Divine names such as God, Jesus, Lord, Father/Mother, Christ, or Spirit. Or you may prefer another name of adoration.

The breath prayer is usually said silently within. But some people sing it; others chant it. It’s your prayer; use it your way. You may also use the breath prayer for a focused time during a daily spiritual practice. Simply repeat the prayer over and over keeping your attention on the prayer. If your attention wanders, gently return to the prayer. Begin with 5 minutes and gradually increase the time to 15 or 20 minutes as you become disciplined with the prayer. You may want to use a timer to free yourself from watching the clock. Some find it useful to write in a journal of their experience with the prayer.

Instructions: 

Close your eyes and recall the line “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 RSV). Be still, calm, peaceful, open to the presence of God.

With your eyes closed, imagine that God is calling you by name. Imagine that God is actually asking, “(Your name) what do you want? Like the blind man on the road to Jericho, Jesus kindly looks you in the eyes and asks, “What do you want from me?”

Give God a simple and direct answer that comes honestly from your heart. Write down the answer. If you have more than one answer, write them down.

Your answer may be one word such as peace or love or help. It may be several words or a phrase such as “feel your presence” or “lead me into life.” Whatever your answers, they are the foundation of your breath prayer.

Select the name that you are most comfortable using to speak with God. Combine it with your written answer to the question God asked you. This is your prayer.

Breathe in the first phrase/word (generally your invocation of God’s name) and breathe out the second phrase/word (request or need). 

Some people have to compose several prayers before they find one which truly arises from their needs. So look carefully at your prayer. Does it reflect the heart of your needs at the time of composition?

Sample Breath Prayers: 

- Jesus, let me feel your love. 
- O Lord Show me your way.
- Holy one, heal me. 
- Jesus Alleluia, have mercy.
- Holy Wisdom, Guide me. 
- Father/Mother (Abba/Amma), let me feel your presence.

There’s no limit really to developing your breath prayer. It may be the same from day to day or it may change. Sometimes you may want to reverse the practice a bit by sitting in silence and letting the Spirit pray through you. Ask for God to reveal your name, and God’s desire for you. This has been a profound experience for me. You may wind up hearing something like, “Beloved, you are enough,” or “Mighty One, rest.” Wait on God and see how you may be renewed.

 For complete information about this form of prayer, read, The Breath of Life: A Simple Way to Pray by Ron Del Bene, published by Upper Room Books, 1992. Adapted from St. Augustine by-the-Sea Episcopal Church website.

Centering Prayer

The Mechanics of Centering Prayer

Finding Meaning in Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God’s presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. 

Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.

The source of Centering Prayer, as in all methods leading to contemplative prayer, is the Indwelling Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. The effects of Centering Prayer are ecclesial, as the prayer tends to build communities of faith and bond the members together in mutual friendship and love. 

 Instructions: 

1. Sit in an upright, attentive posture. Either sitting in a chair with feet on the floor or in a supported fashion on the floor that allows the spine to be upright and chest open. Place hand in your lap.
2. Gently close your eyes and bring to mind your sacred word. Your sacred word is intended to be the same every time you pray. It purpose is to anchor you in the present, allowing you to give your undivided loving, surrendered attention to God. Choose a name for God or a characteristic for God like, Love, Peace, etc.
3. Silently, with eyes closed, recall your sacred word to begin your prayer. As you notice your thoughts, gently return to your sacred word. Do this however many times you notice your thoughts.

It is recommended to pray in this fashion for a minimum of 2 0 minutes, two times a day. Start out slowly with initial prayer periods of five to ten minutes, working up to the desired length of time.

Informational Pamphlet on Centering Prayer

from www.centeringprayer.com

Labyrinth

Labyrinths were a feature of many medieval cathedrals - one of the best remaining examples is found in Chartres Cathedral in northern France. During a time when it was common Christian practice to make pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Rome or Santiago, those who were unable to make the arduous journey could choose to walk the labyrinth instead.

The labyrinth is a contemplative prayer that you can engage by walking. People who find it especially difficult to sit still for prayer, find the labyrinth to be particularly meaningful.

Its maze-like path takes you on a symbolic journey, creates space to unwind and think - in particular about our relationships with ourselves, one another, our planet and God. But contrary to a maze they have only one path and there are no dead ends. People walk the labyrinth slowly, as an aid to contemplative prayer and reflection, as a spiritual exercise, or as a form of pilgrimage.

The path has three stages - the ‘inward’ journey, the centre and the ‘outward’ journey. The theme of the ‘inward’ journey is letting go of things which hinder our wholeness and inner approach to God. The centre of the Labyrinth is a space of meditative prayer and peace. The theme of the ‘outward’ journey is relationship - with ourselves, with others and with the planet - seen in the light of our relationship with God.

 You may locate a labyrinth in your area at a nearby church or retreat center. In addition there are finger labyrinths available for purchase.

from www.labyrinth.org.uk 

 

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina

An ancient practice of praying the scriptures, Lectio Divina is Latin for “divine reading.”

During Lectio, the practitioner listens to the text of the Bible with the “ear of the heart,” as if he or she is in conversation with God, and God is suggesting the topics for discussion.

There are four phases to the method of Lectio Divina: moments of reading (lectio), reflecting on (meditatio), responding to (oratio) and resting in (contemplatio) the Word of God, with the intention of nourishing and deepening one’s relationship with the Divine.

Like Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina cultivates contemplative prayer. Unlike Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina is a participatory, active practice that uses thoughts, images and insights to enter into a conversation with God.

Lectio Divina also is distinguished from reading the Bible for edification or encouragement, Bible study, and praying the scriptures in common, which are all useful but separate practices.

Instructions:

The Ladder of Lectio

Lectio  (Reading)

“Reading is the gentle opening of one’s whole being to the Saving Word of God. We allow the Word to nourish us as the words are read not for information but rather transformation.”

Meditatio (Meditation)

“Meditation is the simple repetition of words or phrases that capture our attention. It is not an intellectual exercise, thinking about the text, but a surrender, through the repetition, to allow the Word to penetrate more deeply into our being until we become one with the text.”

 Oratio (Prayer)

“Prayer is the response of the heart to God. Filled with the Saving Word, we make our response. As St. Cyprian says, ‘In Scripture, God speaks to us, and in prayer we speak to God.’”

Contemplatio (Contemplation)

“As we are faithful to the dynamic of lectio there are moments when we will find ourselves just present to the One who is eternally present to us. This contemplative awareness is a pure gift of God. It is not a product or a reward for it.”

 

The Practice of Lectio Divina

 

1.      Come into the Presence and call upon the Holy Spirit.

2.      Listen for ten minutes to the Lord speaking to you through the Sacred Text.

3.      Thank the Lord and take a “word.”

  

The Practice of Shared Lectio

 

1.      Reading: One person reads aloud a chosen passage from the Scripture and after a pause reads it a second time. All listen, attentive to the Lord now speaking to them.

Silence: Each allows a chosen word or phrase from the reading quietly to repeat itself within.

Sharing: Each one shares the word or phrase, without any elaboration.

2.      Reading: Another member of the group reads the passage again.

Silence: Now each reflects for a couple of minutes, asking, “What has the Lord said to me in this reading with regard to my life today?”

Sharing: Each may share briefly, “I hear the Lord saying to me…”

3.      Reading: Another member of the group reads the passage again.

Silence: Now each reflects for a couple of minutes on “I believe the Lord wants me to…today/this week.”

Sharing: Each may share what came forth in the course of his or her reflection.

 At the end of the sharing there is a time of silent prayer. Each may pray in a special way for the person to his or her right. All are invited to rise together and pray together the Lord’s prayer.

The Prayer of Examen

The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to discern God’s presence and direction for us.  The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole life experience.

 The method presented here is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. St. Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift that came directly from God, and that God wanted it to be shared as widely as possible. One of the few rules of prayer that Ignatius made for the Jesuit order was the requirement that Jesuits practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It’s a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.

 This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.

 

1.      Become aware of God’s presence. 

2.      Review the day with gratitude. 

3.      Pay attention to your emotions. 

4.      Choose one feature of the day and pray from it. 

5.      Look toward tomorrow. 

How to Make the Examen Part of Your Day
Variations on the Examen
Reflections on Praying the Examen
Handouts on the Examen

This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.

1. Become aware of God’s presence.

2. Review the day with gratitude.

3. Pay attention to your emotions.

4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.

5. Look toward tomorrow.

For details about each step of the Examen, read How Can I Pray?

from www.ignatianspirituality.com

 

from www.ignatianspirituality.com

Welcoming Prayer

The Welcoming Prayer is a method of actively letting go of thoughts and feelings that support the false-self system. It helps to dismantle the emotional programs of the false-self system and to heal the wounds of a lifetime by addressing them where they are stored - in the body. The method of the Welcoming Prayer includes noticing the feelings, emotions, thoughts and sensations in your body, welcoming them, and then letting them go. Practicing the Welcoming Prayer offers one the opportunity to make choices free of the false-self system — responding instead of reacting to the present moment.

The purpose of the Welcoming Prayer is to deepen one’s relationship with God through consenting to God’s presence and action in the ordinary activities of daily life. In this way, the Welcoming Prayer supports all forms of prayer, like Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, which share the purpose of growing in relationship with God through consenting to His presence and action.

Welcoming Prayer Brochure

From www.contemplativeoutreach.org