I. Nature of Meditation

COMPENDIUM

Prayer is an elevation of our soul toward God to render Him our homage. The soul elevates itself toward God by thinking of Him, loving Him, and conversing with Him. The homage we should render to God is of four kinds: we should adore Him, we should beg His pardon for our sins, we should thank Him for His benefits, and we should petition His graces.

There are two kinds of prayer, i.e. vocal prayer and mental prayer. Vocal prayer is every prayer performed by means of a given formula. It is so called because ordinarily the voice is used in reciting them. Mental prayer is every prayer performed without the aid of any particular formula. It is so called because it is made by the mind, generally without any articulation of words. This form of prayer is ordinarily called meditation.

Meditation essentially consists in thinking of God or of holy things, with the intention, at least virtual, of rendering Him our homage. Thus, every pious thought, every pious desire, is a mental prayer. It is a pious communication of the soul with God by means of considerations, affections, and resolutions. Its object is to make us know, love, and serve God better, and to promote the knowledge of ourselves and the faithful discharge of our duties. In practice, therefore, it is the art of becoming better.

CATECHISM

1. What is prayer?

Prayer is an elevation of our soul toward God to render Him our homage.

2. How does the soul elevate itself toward God?

The soul elevates itself toward God by thinking of Him, loving Him, and conversing with Him.

3. What kinds of homage should we render to God?

We should render to God four kinds of homage: (1) we should adore Him, (2) beg His pardon for our sins, (3) thank Him for His benefits, and (4) petition His graces.

4. How many kinds of prayer are there?

There are two kinds of prayer: (1) vocal prayer, and (2) mental prayer.

5. What is meant by vocal prayer?

By vocal prayer is meant every prayer performed by means of a given formula.

6. Why are such prayers called vocal prayers?

They are so called because ordinarily the voice is used in reciting them.

7. What is meant by mental prayer?

By mental prayer is meant every prayer performed without aid of any particular formula.

8. Why is this kind of prayer called mental prayer?

It is so called because it is made by the mind, generally without any articulation of words.

9. What is mental prayer ordinarily called?

It is ordinarily called meditation.

10. In what does meditation essentially consist?

Meditation essentially consists in thinking of God or of holy things, with the intention, at least virtual, of rendering Him our homage. Thus, every pious thought, every pious desire, is a mental prayer.

11. Give a more complete definition of meditation.

Meditation is a pious communication of the soul with God by means of considerations, affections, and resolutions. Its object is to make us know, love, and serve God better, and to promote the knowledge of ourselves and the faithful discharge of our duties. In practice, therefore, it is the art of becoming better.

II. Necessity and Excellence of Meditation

COMPENDIUM

Meditation, in its essence, is necessary for every Christian who wishes to be saved. For every Christian is obliged to pray, and it is impossible for him to pray well without reflecting on what he says, that is, without meditating. Without meditation, he does not know his wants, and, therefore, does not think of praying. Thus, meditation is as necessary for him as is prayer in general. Without meditation, everything is done by routine; and, by degrees, routine leads to thoughtlessness, spiritual blindness, and insensibility. Hence, the Holy Ghost says: "With desolation is all the land made desolate; because there is none that considereth in the heart." (Jer. 12:11)

It is a duty of state for a religious to practice meditation because, without mental prayer, he cannot advance toward perfection, for which he ought unceasingly to strive, and because, without mental prayer, he will be much exposed to the danger of losing his vocation, as is proved by experience. Therefore, the founders of religious orders and the masters of the spiritual life have made this holy exercise a duly of slate for religious persons.

The religious who is devoted to an active life has special reasons for applying himself to meditation:

1. Because mental prayer is the only means which can efficaciously preserve him from the spirit of the world, and keep up in him the spirit of faith;
2. Because the salvation of souls is above all the work of grace, and grace is obtained principally by prayer;
3. Because Our Lord, Who came on earth to save mankind, devoted far more time to prayer than to preaching;
4. Because the Apostles freed themselves from all other cares in order to devote themselves exclusively to prayer and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4);
5. Because those evangelical laborers who gained the most souls for God distinguished themselves by their application to mental prayer.

Meditation is a most excellent exercise, not merely by reason of its necessity, but also on account of its advantages, and because it is most honorable for us. By the light and strength it imparts to us, meditation:

1. Keeps sin far from us and saves us from Hell;
2. Preserves us from lukewarmness, or cures us of it;
3. Is the common source of all virtues.

It is thus the shortest way of arriving at perfection, and the most efficacious means of persevering in our vocation.

Meditation is a great honor for us because by it we are admitted to the audience, not of a prince, or of an earthly ruler, but to that of God Himself.

CATECHISM

12. Is meditation necessary?

Meditation, in its essence, is necessary for every Christian who wishes to be saved.

13. Demonstrate this necessity.

Every Christian is obliged to pray; it is impossible for him to pray well without reflecting on what he says, consequently, without meditating.

14. How else can you prove this necessity?

Without meditation, everything is done by routine; and, by degrees, routine leads to thoughtlessness, spiritual blindness, and insensibility.

15. Is it a duty of state for a religious to practice meditation?

Yes, because without mental prayer (1) he cannot advance toward perfection, for which he ought unceasingly to strive, and (2) he will be much exposed to losing his vocation, as is proved by experience.

16. Has the religious who is devoted to an active life any special reason for applying himself to meditation?

Yes, because mental prayer (1) preserves him from the spirit of the world, (2) obtains for him grace, essential for the work of saving souls, and (3) imitates the habit of Our Lord, (4) that of the Holy Apostles, and (5) that of those evangelical laborers who gained the most souls for God.

17. Is meditation an exercise of any particular excellence?

Yes, meditation is most excellent, not merely by reason of its necessity, but also on account of its advantages, and because it is most honorable for us.

18. Name some of the advantages of meditation.

By the light and strength it imparts to us, meditation (1) keeps sin far from us and saves us from Hell, (2) preserves us from lukewarmness, or cures us of it, and (3) is the common source of all virtues.

19. Why is meditation such a great honor for us?

Because in meditation we are admitted to the audience, not of a prince, or of an earthly ruler, but to that of God Himself.

III. Facility of Meditation

COMPENDIUM

Meditation is easy, whether it be considered on the part of God, or on the part of man. It is easy considered on the part of God, for, being necessary for everybody, God must make its practice easy, because only easy things can be performed by all men. It is easy considered on the part of man, for it means to recall to mind, with the help of grace, some good thoughts, to make, in all simplicity, acts of faith, hope, and charity, of confidence and humility, of repentance and firm purpose of amendment, of petition, etc. Who would affirm that this is something difficult? Nonetheless, meditation does offer some difficulties, as does every work, and every struggle of virtue against vice. These difficulties come:

1. From the devil, who endeavors to keep us from this holy exercise;
2. From spiritual sloth, which deters us from efforts which must be renewed, as it were, every day;
3. From discouragement, which we experience in finding ourselves always combating numerous faults and defects, combined with a false persuasion that we cannot correct ourselves of them;
4. From our sins, which pull our mind, heart and will away from God and from prayer. It is not possible to persevere in mental prayer and at the same time to persist in sin, especially not in mortal sin.

To meditate well, it is necessary to have a sincere will, i.e., we must earnestly apply ourselves to mental prayer, and constantly beg this grace of God. We can know what our meditation is worth by its results, because the tree is known by its fruits. A good meditation produces a greater fidelity to the duties of one's state, especially a greater love for humility, the mother of all virtues, for obedience, their guardian, and for charity, their queen.

CATECHISM

20. Is meditation easy?

Yes, mediation is easy, whether it be considered on the part of God, or on the part of man.

21. Show that meditation is easy when considered on the part of God.

Since meditation is necessary for everybody, God must make its practice easy, because only easy things can be performed by all men.

22. Show that meditation is easy when considered on the part of man.

Meditation is easy for man, since the things it entails, i.e. recalling to mind good thoughts, making acts of faith, hope, charity, and repentance, etc., are themselves not difficult.

23. Does meditation not also offer some difficulties?

Meditation does offer some difficulties, as does every work, and every struggle of virtue against vice.

24. Whence come these difficulties?

The difficulties of meditation come (1) from the devil, (2) from spiritual sloth, (3) from discouragement, and (4) from our sins.

25. What, then, is necessary to meditate well?

To meditate well, it is necessary to have a sincere will, i.e., we must earnestly apply ourselves to mental prayer, and constantly beg this grace of God.

26. By what signs can we know that we meditate well?

The tree is known by its fruits; thus we can know what our meditation is worth by its results.

27. What results does a good meditation produce?

It produces a greater fidelity to the duties of one's state, especially a greater love for humility, the mother of all virtues, for obedience, their guardian, and for charity, their queen.