Fr. Jim Martin follows up on his first video blog on prayer with an introduction to Ignatian contemplation. Check back in over the coming weeks for reflections on lectio divina and other forms of prayer.
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
16 years 10 months ago
In Matthew we hear about how James and John were mending their nets when Jesus came up to them and asked them to follow him. I have imagined that these men were also being mended while they attended to their nets. My guess is that they were silent and attentive and even contemplative while they mended their net. Silence and attention can mend and heal and can lead to prayer. Perhaps their hearts were at peace and silent and this was what was needed in order for them to be able hear Jesus call them. I believe anybody's imagination can help awaken God's endless truth, endless goodness, endless beauty for all of us.
16 years 6 months ago
Probably 40 years ago I read a book called ''Lets Start Praying Again by Bernard Bassett S.J. I have used (how I understood) his version of contemplative prayer quite a bit since then and have found that this way of praying gave me interesting, new, spiritual and personal insights. I am happy to hear what Fr. Martin has to say about this because it is exactly what I felt was in Fr. Bassett's book.
The majority of survey respondents cited their Marian devotions as having played an important role in the discernment and living of their call to religious life.
I have questioned the ethical implications of belonging to an institution with so many members sympathetic to MAGA politics. But I can still rediscover the hope of the Eucharist in my parish.