Or again, it is that prayer which looks at God by contemplating and adoring His attributes more than by asking him for favors or thanking him for graces received. In general, this is the form of mental prayer in which the affective sentiments of the will predominate, as distinct from discursive reflections of the mind. Latin meditatio, a thinking over.) Contemplative Prayer The objects of meditation are mainly three: the mysteries of faith a person's better knowledge of what God wants him or her to do and the divine will, to know how God wants to be served by the one who is meditating. Hence, this is also called discursive mental prayer. While the affections may also be active, the emphasis in meditation is on the role of the intellect. It is that form of mental prayer in which the mind, in God's presence, thinks about God and divine things. In mental prayer the three powers of the soul are engaged: the memory, which offers the mind material for meditation or contemplation the intellect, which ponders or directly perceives the meaning of some religious truth and its implications for practice and the will, which freely expresses its sentiments of faith, trust, and love, and (as needed) makes good resolutions based on what the memory and intellect have made known to the will. As contemplation, it is a loving and intuitive (immediately perceptive) consideration and admiration of the same truths or mysteries of faith. As meditation, it is a loving and discursive (reflective) consideration of religious truths or some mystery of faith. Mental prayer is accomplished by internal acts of the mind and affections and is either simple meditation or contemplation. This is the form of prayer in which the sentiments expressed are one's own and not those of another person, and the expression of these sentiments is mainly, if not entirely, interior and not externalized. Latin vocalis, speaking, talking from vox, voice.) Mental Prayer - using your own words So that in practice the distinction between mental and vocal prayer is more a matter of emphasis, whether one's own unrehearsed sentiments predominate (mental prayer) or a person rather employs verbal expressions that are not, at the time, the immediate product of communication with God (vocal prayer). More technically, vocal prayer involves the use of some set formulas, since it is assumed that even when a person prays mentally he necessarily employs some form of at least internal speech. This form of prayer is a "conversation" with God, or the angels and saints, and is formed in words or equivalent symbols of expression. This response may be an acknowledgment of God's greatness and of a person's total dependence on Him (adoration) or gratitude for His benefits to oneself and others (thanksgiving) or sorrow for sins committed and begging for mercy (contrition/expiation) or asking for graces needed (petition/intercession) or affection for God, who is all good (love). Prayer is the voluntary response to the awareness of God's presence. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary): Prayer (in general) While there are many dimensions to prayer, a few simple definitions can help us get started (from Fr. "Prayer is, at root, simply paying attention to God." - Ralph Martin, The Fulfillment of All Desireĭefinitions, while not exhaustive, can go a long way in helping us understand something.
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