Holy Hour guide · Ignatian contemplation
How to Pray
How to Pray
How to Pray
A Step-by-Step Guide to Ignatian Contemplation
A Step-by-Step Guide to Ignatian Contemplation
“Imaginative prayer” or “Ignatian contemplation” is a unique way of praying that enlists the help of our senses and imagination.
“Imaginative prayer” or “Ignatian contemplation” is a unique way of praying that enlists the help of our senses and imagination.
Before you begin
“As one friend speaks to another.”
“As one friend speaks to another.”
St. Ignatius of Loyola
St. Ignatius of Loyola
In contemplation, we engage our five senses to “enter” a Gospel scene—seeing, hearing, and feeling the moment. This allows us to have a “spiritual conversation” with Jesus and the characters, speaking and listening “heart to heart,” like St. Ignatius of Loyola suggests, “as one friend speaks to another.”
St. Ignatius encourages us to approach prayer like a good movie director—we start with the wide angle and then zoom in on the key figures—reflecting on their faces and hearts. Ignatius outlines several steps to help us contemplate Jesus in the Scriptures.
In contemplation, we engage our five senses to “enter” a Gospel scene—seeing, hearing, and feeling the moment. This allows us to have a “spiritual conversation” with Jesus and the characters, speaking and listening “heart to heart,” like St. Ignatius of Loyola suggests, “as one friend speaks to another.”
St. Ignatius encourages us to approach prayer like a good movie director—we start with the wide angle and then zoom in on the key figures—reflecting on their faces and hearts. Ignatius outlines several steps to help us contemplate Jesus in the Scriptures.
The Value of Ignatian Contemplation
The Value of Ignatian Contemplation
Ignatian contemplation helps us to see, hear, and walk with them, reminding us that the saints are real people who experience emotions like we do. Second, reflecting on a Gospel passage this way reveals new details and graces. When we pray this way, each person receives different graces from the same passage because the Lord knows our hearts.
Ignatian contemplation helps us to see, hear, and walk with them, reminding us that the saints are real people who experience emotions like we do. Second, reflecting on a Gospel passage this way reveals new details and graces. When we pray this way, each person receives different graces from the same passage because the Lord knows our hearts.
Step-by-Step Guide to
Practicing Ignatian Contemplation
Practicing Ignatian Contemplation
Eleven steps, from reading the passage to a closing prayer.
Eleven steps, from reading the passage to a closing prayer.
01
Review the History
Review the History
Read the Gospel passage. If you want, you can also do a bit of research into the time period, events, customs, related Bible passages, etc., surrounding the passage to better understand the context.
Read the Gospel passage. If you want, you can also do a bit of research into the time period, events, customs, related Bible passages, etc., surrounding the passage to better understand the context.
02
Create the Composition
Create the Composition
You can do this by imagining the place—for example, see the road from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Its length and breadth, level or winding through valleys & hills.
You can do this by imagining the place—for example, see the road from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Its length and breadth, level or winding through valleys & hills.
03
Pray from the heart
Pray from the heart
Ask for an interior knowledge of Our Lord, who became man, that you may know him more, love him more, follow him more.
Ask for an interior knowledge of Our Lord, who became man, that you may know him more, love him more, follow him more.
04
See the Persons
See the Persons
See the characters—Our Lady, St. Joseph, the disciples. Visualize them, but also try to see them in other ways—emotionally, spiritually. Understand where they are in their lives in this passage.
See the characters—Our Lady, St. Joseph, the disciples. Visualize them, but also try to see them in other ways—emotionally, spiritually. Understand where they are in their lives in this passage.
05
Ignite the Five Senses
Ignite the Five Senses
Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching. Places, people, faces, emotions.
Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching. Places, people, faces, emotions.
06
Participate
Participate
Place yourself in the scene. Gaze at the characters, contemplating them and serving them in their needs, just as if you were there.
Place yourself in the scene. Gaze at the characters, contemplating them and serving them in their needs, just as if you were there.
07
Heart Check
Heart Check
Take some time to reflect on yourself, and where you are during this moment in your life and prayer.
Take some time to reflect on yourself, and where you are during this moment in your life and prayer.
08
Listen
Listen
Pay attention to any dialogue in the passage. Observe what they are saying.
Pay attention to any dialogue in the passage. Observe what they are saying.
09
See the Action
See the Action
What are the characters’ actions and their meanings? Consider what they are doing and the context surrounding it.
What are the characters’ actions and their meanings? Consider what they are doing and the context surrounding it.
10
Heart to Heart
Heart to Heart
Conclude with a conversation with Jesus or Mary, as a friend speaks to a friend, or a servant to a leader; speaking your concerns and asking for advice.
Conclude with a conversation with Jesus or Mary, as a friend speaks to a friend, or a servant to a leader; speaking your concerns and asking for advice.
11
Close with a Familiar Prayer
Close with a Familiar Prayer
Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.
Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.
Try it with the Annunciation
Luke
1:26–38
Luke
1:26–38
“Here am I, the servant of the Lord.”
“Here am I, the servant of the Lord.”
Let’s try out Ignatian contemplation by looking at the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel speaks to Mary. Start by reading the passage from Luke below.
Let’s try out Ignatian contemplation by looking at the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel speaks to Mary. Start by reading the passage from Luke below.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
A guided example
Walking Through Ignatian Contemplation
Walking Through Ignatian Contemplation
Let’s try it out by using our sense of sight.
Let’s try it out by using our sense of sight.
Fra Angelico, The Annunciation, c. 1440–45. Convent of San Marco, Florence.
Is it day or night? St. Luke doesn’t specify, but many artists depict the Annunciation at night, perhaps while Mary was praying or resting. Picture Mary at home, in Nazareth, where the days are hot and sunny, and the nights are cool and breezy. Can you imagine the smell of dust, a breeze, or candles burning?
Now, think of Mary’s appearance. She is young, engaged to be married. Imagine her face and emotions as she encounters the angel—troubled and pondering. She asks, “How can this be?” The angel reassures her, “Do not be afraid, Mary.”
Though overwhelmed, Mary accepts her role, recalling God’s promises and the psalms she’s prayed: “The Lord is my shepherd.” With a tear, she says, “Yes. Let it be done to me according to your word.”
At that moment, God takes on human flesh in Mary’s womb. His heart begins to beat beneath hers, offering his Sacred Heart to humanity.
Is it day or night? St. Luke doesn’t specify, but many artists depict the Annunciation at night, perhaps while Mary was praying or resting. Picture Mary at home, in Nazareth, where the days are hot and sunny, and the nights are cool and breezy. Can you imagine the smell of dust, a breeze, or candles burning?
Now, think of Mary’s appearance. She is young, engaged to be married. Imagine her face and emotions as she encounters the angel—troubled and pondering. She asks, “How can this be?” The angel reassures her, “Do not be afraid, Mary.”
Though overwhelmed, Mary accepts her role, recalling God’s promises and the psalms she’s prayed: “The Lord is my shepherd.” With a tear, she says, “Yes. Let it be done to me according to your word.”
At that moment, God takes on human flesh in Mary’s womb. His heart begins to beat beneath hers, offering his Sacred Heart to humanity.
For your Holy Hour
St. Ignatius asks us to reflect
St. Ignatius asks us to reflect
01
01
How do I feel reading this passage?
How do I feel reading this passage?
02
02
Have I ever felt called by God?
Have I ever felt called by God?
03
03
Engage in a personal conversation with Mary or Jesus. What would you ask, and what might they say to you?
Engage in a personal conversation with Mary or Jesus. What would you ask, and what might they say to you?
Take a moment to reflect or write down your thoughts.
Take a moment to reflect or write down your thoughts.
Take a moment to reflect or write down your thoughts.