Crystal: This question is sort of off-topic, but I was wondering if you could say a bit about the Ignatian style of imaginative prayer that is a conversation with Jesus. Thanks
Father Martin: Actually, there is a long explanation of that in my chapter on St. Ignatius in My Life with the Saints. But briefly put, “Ignatian prayer” or “Ignatian contemplation” uses the imagination as a way to help people enter into a scene from Scripture, or to enter into a “discussion” with Jesus. For example, if you were looking at the story of the Sermon on the Mount, you might imagine yourself listening to Jesus speaking, and would ask the following questions in your prayer to set the scene: What do I see? What do I hear? What do I feel? What do I smell? What do I taste? In this way you “compose the place,” as St. Ignatius said, in your imagination, as a way of entering more deeply into the Scripture passage. And then you see what happens. Sometimes you are rewarded with new insights about that Bible story, and sometimes your emotion about what you are seeing reveals something new about yourself, about Jesus, or about God. In this case, for example, you might find yourself a little surprised that you are frightened about following all of the beatitudes, which might lead you into a good prayer about what is really required to follow Jesus. That’s just one example.
As for talking with Jesus, Ignatius calls these discussion “colloquies” in which you imagine Jesus before you and you speak to him in a “familiar” way as you would a friend. Essentially, Ignatius reminds us that our imagination is simply another way through which God communicates to us.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Sister Julie and Fr. Martin,
Thank you so much for sharing your insights with us. Sister, I have been admiring your blog for some time now. My aunt is an Immaculata IHM, and she also is a fan of yours. She is also the one who introduced me to the writings of you, Fr. Martin, and they have been a tremendous blessing.
Perhaps this comment will be too long to publish, but I wanted to share it with the two of you anyway, and if you find it in any way helpful or useful, you may feel free to share the story with whomever you like. For three years now I have been seriously discerning a vocation to the priesthood with the Augustinians. During my second year at Villanova I met a girl, and we became very close. I developed strong feelings for her, and she for me, but at the same time my desire for the priesthood did not fade. At the same time this happened, my spiritual director with the Augustinians passed away, and I went two months or so before being appointed a new one, who has turned out to be one of God’s greatest gifts to me.
After a few months of the girl and I growing closer, all the while maintaining my honesty with her that I was very unsure about which direction I was heading, I decided that I needed to seek some answers, and so I booked a weekend men’s retreat at St. Joseph’s in the Hills in Malvern, PA. The retreat director was a Jesuit, though I do forget his name. On the second day there he led us in an exercise of Ignatian contemplation. The Gospel passage used was that of the rich young man who came to Jesus asking what he needs to do to follow him.
Having already been very familiar with this form of contemplation, and having practiced mental prayer for some time, I suppose it was very easy for me to be led along this meditative journey. I placed myself in the place of the rich young man, and there I was face to face with our Lord. I remember still how vivid Jesus’ face was as I stood there before Him, His eyes blazing into mine. Knowing full well that this was the action of my imagination, yet also trusting that the Holy Spirit certainly can work there, I decided that with our Lord so present to me I would simply ask what I came there to ask. And so, with His eyes blazing, I looked at Jesus and said, “Lord, do You want me to be a priest?” And then I waited.
Now, knowing full well that this was my own imagination, I was not expecting anything miraculous, nor was I asking for any sort of supernatural experience. In the end, what I got was probably much more convincing and clear, anyway. Moments went by and in my imagination, though His face remained as vivid as ever, our Lord did not speak. Not a word came, and yet I was certain that I just needed to wait. What I was doing felt right, and so I waited, and still nothing. Finally, after I don’t know how long, probably only two minutes or so, I noticed something, and in that I received my answer. Having just asked our Lord if He wanted me to be a priest, the whole time I waited for an answer I realized that I was saying to myself, “Please say yes. Please say yes. Please say yes.”
Father Martin, at the time I had just recently finished reading My Life with the Saints, and I’m also an avid Thomas Merton reader. And in your chapter on Merton, as well as in other writings of his, I realized that often times it is by our desires that God leads us most clearly. God loves us and truly wants us to be happy, and our own happiness comes from doing His will. And so I knew that if I set my heart, truly set my heart on doing God’s will, that it would be by my desires that He would lead me. And what clearer insight into my own deepest desire could I get than asking Jesus if He wanted me to be a priest, and begging Him to say yes?
So now here I am. I still have to finish my undergrad work at Villanova (double majoring in philosophy and theology, with a classics minor), but this November I finally begin the application process, and hopefully by May I will know whether or not I have been accepted by the Order. Perhaps you might keep me in your prayers? As I said, I understand if this comment is too long to publish, but first I wanted to thank you, Fr. Martin, and also make this story available to both of you in case ever an opportunity arises where it might bring someone some help.
Peace in Christ,
Michael Hallman
Michael, Thank you so much for sharing your story with us. Father Martin read it and responded to me with a big WOW (he was on another blog today). My thought exactly. You touched on such an important point about God and the spiritual life: “often times it is by our desires that God leads us most clearly”. This was a key insight that Ignatius had too. And God bless you for being open and willing to wait in prayer and to allow the Spirit to move you to this. Please know of my prayers, Michael. I remember your aunt telling me about you. I’m glad to have an IHM connection with you. Please keep me posted on your journey, Michael.
Sister Julie