The Review of Prayer

After the formal prayer period is over I should review what happened during that time – not so much what ideas did I have, but more the movements of consolation, desolation, fear, anxiety, boredom and so on – perhaps something about my distractions, especially if they were deep or disturbing. Questions like the following may help:

• What passage did I choose?

• What grace did I ask for?

• What went on during the period of prayer?

• Where did I dwell?

• What struck me or stood out for me?

• Did I experience comfort or discomfort?

• How did I feel about what went on?

• What was my mood, changes in mood?

• Was it enjoyable? Distasteful? Moving? Boring?

• What did the Lord show me? How did I respond?

• Did I receive the grace I asked for?

• Did the time go slowly, moderately, quickly?

• Is there some point I should return to in my next period of prayer?

During the review of prayer, I thank God for divine favors and ask pardon for my own negligence. This review is an instrument to help me to reflect upon the experience of the prayer period. It helps me notice my interior experiences. Thus, it enables me to be spontaneous during the actual prayer time and to go with the flow of experience. If I were to monitor myself during the period of prayer, I would be interfering with the Lord’s communication. I let happen what is happening during the prayer time; afterwards I take a look to see what the Lord is saying in all this.

It is helpful during this review to jot down a few reflections that strike me so that I can more easily prepare for my next period of prayer. The Lord may be inviting me to go back to a point where I was moved. Father Judge says, “You should continue on a point until you get no more thought from it,” i.e., until the movement has been completed (the insight completed; the struggle resolved; the consolation ended; the meaningfulness finished . . . for now.) Jotting down my reflections during the review is also of help to me when discussing my prayer experiences with the spiritual director. It is also helpful at the end of a prayer period to signalize the difference of this review from the prayer period by some change of place or posture; the activity of review is different from the activity of the prayer period.