Ad Dominum

Lent is a time when we enter more deeply into the interior spiritual life. Meditation and contemplation form the core of a successful Lenten cycle of prayer.

The following words from the Holy Father remind us of the benefits of prayer beyond the common conception of prayer as a cosmic lifeline:

It is right to pray to God also for the small things of our everyday life, but at the same time prayer is a way, I would say a ladder: We must increasingly learn the things we can pray for and the things that should not be prayed for because they are expressions of my egoism or of my pride.

In this way, prayer becomes a process of purification of our thoughts, of our desires.

[To] remain in Christ is a process of slow purification, of liberation from myself, a true way that opens to joy and that is characterized by a sacramental background.

Thus we can learn that God responds to our prayers, and often corrects them, transforms them, guides them so that we will finally and really be branches of his Son, of the ‘true vine,’ members of his Body.

Let us thank God for the grandeur of his love. Let us pray so that he will help us to grow in his love and to really remain in his love.

-Pope Benedict XVI, February 13, 2010, Address to seminarians at the Chapel of the Major Roman Seminary [Source]

My Lenten observance this year, in case anyone is curious, includes a more focused practice of Lectio Divina and private meditation of the Way of the Cross.

Our discussion of Lenten prayer really should apply to all of our prayer. However, Lent is a good time to speak about prayer as it tends to be thought about more often. So what about Lenten prayer?

Prayer is contemplation and meditation. Prayer is definitely more than presenting a list of wishes and demands. Prayer is meditation on God, on the Christ, on redemption, on creation, on love, on peace, on justice. Prayer is contemplating the vastness of God, the ‘wideness in God’s mercy,’ the face of Jesus our brother.

Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him. (St. Clare of Assisi)

Prayer is more than personal. Prayer is communal. Much is made of the liturgy; “liturgy” is the public prayer of the entire Church! It isn’t “me” communicating with God: it is “us” communicating with God, each other, and all of creation. The communal nature of prayer is often neglected, especially during Lent. This is why I am such a fan of communal penance services. During these services we gather to express first communally our shortcomings and transgressions, and then we are called to sacramentally confess our sins individually and receive absolution. Admission of failure communally is excellent preparation for admission of failure privately.

Prayer leads us inward. The Holy Father said in his address that prayer “becomes a process of purification of our thoughts, of our desires.” It also teaches how we ought to pray, as we communicate not only with God in Heaven but with the very God who dwells in us. Cultivating a life of prayer leads us, naturally, to live the divine life which we received through the grace of our baptism.

Prayer leads us outward. Silently mumbling words, no matter how piously executed, is profoundly worthless if our prayer does not lead us to action. Our actions outside of ourselves, as agents of God’s love, become extensions of our prayers. We cannot expect that the Monopoly pieces of life will be miraculously moved from on high; this world isn’t a divine board game. “God has no hands but ours,” right?

Pax et bonum.