Seven Ways to Pray

Below are seven ways to pray and a short description of each one. We will learn more about each one throughout the years. Most of them are from Ignatius, which he found to be very helpful.

1. Awareness Examen

Reflect on your day with God by looking at all of your life

experiences of the day and asking yourself, “Where is God in those life experiences?”

2. Praying with Scripture

Meditation (a.k.a, Lectio Divina). In meditation, we read the scriptural passage like a “love letter” from God. Read it slowly, aloud or in a whisper.

Ponder and reflect on the letter. Notice if any words, images, or phrases touch you and stay with you.

3. Praying with Scripture

Contemplation. In contemplation, we use our imagination and all of our senses to enter into a scripture passage as if we were there: see the people, hear the dialogue, and engage in the actions.

4. Centering Prayer

In this prayer, we journey from head to heart. We spiral down into the deepest center of ourselves and be still. “Be still and know that I am God!” (Ps 46:10)

5. Mantra

One means of centering oneself is by the use of the mantra or prayer word. The mantra can be a single word or phrase. It may be a word from scripture or one that arises spontaneously from within your heart. The word or phrase is repeated slowly within oneself in harmony with one’s breathing.

6. Journaling

Is meditative free writing. We allow the Spirit of God to guide our hands and spirits. Journaling is different from keeping a journal. The former is praying and the latter is reviewing and recording the experience.

7. Art

Like journaling, you allow the Spirit of God to guide your hands to draw, paint, or create a work of art. Or you can use other people’s art to pray with. Allow the art to stir your thoughts and feelings. Besides the paintings or sculptures, you can use other forms of art such as music, movies, dance, etc….to pray with.

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