“The devil knows that he has lost the soul that perseveringly practices mental prayer.” - St. Teresa of Avila
Prayer is the elevation of the mind and will to God by thinking of Him, loving Him, conversing with Him; to adore Him, to thank Him, to ask forgiveness, to petition His aid.

There are two types of prayer, vocal and mental.  Vocal prayer is by a given formula; mental without the aid of a formula... nor are words needed.   Today we will speak on mental prayer.

Mental prayer is a pious communication of the soul with God by means of considerations, affections, and resolutions.  Its object is to make us know, love, serve God better; and to advance the knowledge we have of ourselves and promote the faithful discharge of our duties.  It is the art of self-perfection.

The night before pick a topic, i.e. love of God for sinners, tragedy of sin; mercy, suffering, patience of the Savior; Sacraments; virtues and vices; articles of the Creed; something useful to overcome our predominate fault - what most keeps us from advancing our salvation.

Right before my mental prayer, I place myself in the presence of God, i.e. everywhere by essence; more in man than rock; more in a holy man than less worthy; Real Presence.  Nurture humility: I am a sinner; all good I have comes from God; without God I am nothing.  Nurture gratitude: God has forgiven me abundantly and wants for me a heavenly kingdom.

A Prayer before Meditation
O my God, I firmly believe that Thou are truly present.  I adore Thee and consecrate myself wholly to Thee.  I humbly offer this meditation for Thy greater glory and honor and for the sanctification of my soul.  Deign to enlighten my understanding that I may know Thee more intimately and realize more deeply Thy saving truth.  Inflame my heart with ardent love for Thee.  Strengthen my will that I may follow Thy inspirations and order my life according to the holy lessons Thou dost teach by word and example.  Amen.

General order of the body of the meditation
1. Considerations - the contemplation, moved by the light of faith and reason, of some dogma (truth) or moral (virtue) of our holy faith.  Place before the imagination the scene: persons and place; listen and feel; ask questions.

Passion.  Christ on His cross.  Wounded and bloody. Mockery and taunts.  “He saved others but cannot save Himself.”  But He says, “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do”; “This day thou shalt be with Me in paradise”; “Behold thy son, behold thy Mother”; “My God, My God...”; “I thirst” “It is finished’; “Into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”

We may consider: forgiveness; repentance; need of Mary; resignation to Divine Will,...

2. Affections - the holy sentiments of the heart arising during meditation either spontaneously (more grace) or voluntarily (more human effort) which move the will to make resolutions.

“Jesus, my mercy, have mercy on me a sinner”; “My Jesus, be to me a Savior, not a judge”; Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with me in my last agony”; My Jesus, I love Thee, grant that I may love Thee always, then do with me as Thou wilt.” 

 Our affections will concern the past: humility, fear, regret, gratitude; the present: fervor, love, holy desire; the future: hope, confidence, resignation to the Divine Will.

3.  Supplications - the petitions to God for our needs which some associate with affections.
Ask for patience in suffering... even joy for God does not allow our suffering for a bad end but our salvation.  Many saints were sad unless they had something to suffer as they thought God had left them, “God chastizes those He loves.”  Ask for the mercy to forgive enemies; a deeper  contrition for sin; an increase of trust in Divine Providence; a more fervent devotion to Mary. 

4.  Resolutions - the firm proposals made to avoid sin and practice virtue; the principal fruit of mental prayer without which this exercise would be sterile.

Resolutions need be precise, not vague; practical, not theoretical; personal, relating to our duties, and esp. to overcome our predominate fault; proximate, not for the distant future; firm; persevering, constantly renewed until victory.

I will hold no grudges and reject any which may harbor in my soul; I will bless whenever I suffer evil, “maledicemur, benedicimus;” I will commit myself to a daily rosary; I will look always for Christ in my neighbor.  For mercy, I visit the sick this Thursday; against sloth, today I will clean the garage; against a spirit of complaint, today I will embrace my cross by not complaining at all.

All resolutions aim to accomplish God’s holy will; they cause us to conform our will to His.

The aspects of meditation work this way: our pious considerations and holy affections give rise to good resolutions: our mind perceives what is good, our heart feels drawn, then the will, aided by grace; we decide to act. 

God works in us “to will and to accomplish, according to His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) But we must also implore our Lord, BVM, patron saints and guardian angel to assist us to make advances in doing God’s will as much as to improve our prayer.

The conclusion - finally, before departing from the Divine audience we make a thanksgiving, ask forgiveness for our faults, renew our firm purpose, present a spiritual bouquet (maxim of a saint or other to carry through the day), and perhaps say a colloquy (parting word to God or His saint).

Prayer after meditation
O my God, behold me humbly prostrate before Thee to adore Thee, to praise Thee, to thank Thee for Thy infinite goodness in Thyself and for Thy infinite goodness to me.  I thank Thee especially for the graces conferred upon me during this holy meditation. Deign, O my God, to grant me the further grace of corresponding to these precious graces.  Give me the courage and generosity to live henceforth according to the light with which Thou hast illumined my soul.  May my heart ever burn with love of Thee, my will ever be in closest conformity with Thine, my whole being serve Thee perfectly in time and in eternity.  Amen.


Time. 15 minutes then ½ hr then 1 hr; Posture.  whatever is conducive, kneel, sit, stand, walking.
Place. ideally Church with Real Presence but anyplace will do...even driving in Dallas (vs. Impatience); Dangers. keep it a prayer, not a study; do not search for purely theoretical; avoid idleness occasioned by fatigue or discouragement... mix spiritual reading with meditation to combat these.