Contemplation in one Our Father
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I had a nice Mass today, mainly because I remember to give, not just take what I needed to help sanctify my soul. I returned love for Love: I remembered family, friends, etc. in my prayers during the Solemnity of the Mass & during my Communion. After Communion, I remembered to offer God thanksgiving because of the sweet prodding of sweet St. Gertrude last night <link on this contemplation later>.
As soon as we excited the Church parking lot, however, and began our drive home, my mind began to wander wildly like monarch butterflies. I told myself No, I don’t want to go there, I want to continue to abide in Christ’s Love.
I brought myself back with an Our Father, and, to God’s glory, settled back into peace. Within that peace, I offered thanksgiving for such a lovely Mass, for Jesus, etc.
So surprised was I with this quick change of focus, I dissected it a bit and realized this:
The Our Father is an excellent form of contemplation to train the heart, mind, and soul.
It’s very much like the rosary. We know the Our Father and Hail Mary run in the background of our minds while we contemplate the mysteries of the holy rosary. It works in the same fashion: the movement of contemplation can be achieved within an Our Father (even a Hail Mary).
The soul’s facilities - the intellect, will, and memory - are recollected to begin prayer this way:
The intellect understands what is said, why it is said, and reaches in faith - it is occupied and doesn’t wander.
The soul wills the heart to be lifted in petition, praise, thanksgiving, etc. to God. We reach in love.
The memory abandons everything - occupations, pre-occupations, concerns - and remembers nothing but places all hope in our Good God that she will be heard.
While all this is happening, the soul is bathed - immersed - in the holy words of the Our Father, which serves as an anchor to steady the soul.
So, what does a Contemplative Our Father look like in practice?
First, think of your intention. You’re saying an Our Father to Our Lord on behalf of whom, why? If there’s a lax connection, spend time thinking deeper to develop that sense of love, gratitude, hope, etc. It’s a lot like working up that sense of perfect contrition during Confession.
Second, begin your prayer. You are speaking with God, the Blessed Mother, or a saint who can intercede for you - maintain this focus of speaking with this Special Someone while holding the affections you evoked from the previous step.
Third, end your prayer on a note of uplifted love and hope. Believe that you’ve been heard even though your prayer will be answered in God’s time.
That’s it, my dear friend.. what I realized by saying an Our Father on my 10-minute trip home.
Saints would do this using aspirations or ejaculatory prayers that emerge from the heart, like:
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, be my Salvation.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
My God & my all!
Jesus, Mary, I love You. Save souls.
God, come to my assistance, Lord, make haste to help me.
These are a lifting of the heart to God, too, but the little method I discovered today - this roadmap - encourages me to practice contemplation by with a short focused prayer to God the Father more frequently during the day.
An answered prayer.
—
Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam, 10.18.2020
photo of Holy Family altar by Brian/flickr, Urbex Maison A. collection
I rest in His shadow Whom I desire, and His fruit is sweet to my mouth.
-Cant 2:3, Introit, Sancta Missa, S. Margaritæ Mariæ Alaquoque Virginis
Share or leave a comment. I write & think about things like this, mainly about the movement of my soul & how God works.. If you’d like to break the monotony of all the stuff in your inbox:
Note accompanying 1.15.2021, 10a bump to the top/republishing: .
.originally published Sun, Oct 18, 2020
There’s a lot of backstory <link> to this, mainly beginning from Thursday… dearest, you know how I’ve been trying to track & analyze my spiritual rumblings.. I will give you the short & sweet.