THE INTERIOR CASTLE AND LEARNING DEEP PERSONAL PRAYER
In this set of reflections on Teresa’s invitation to deep personal prayer, we will begin with a summary of her concrete suggestions in her classic text. Then there will be some thoughts on “What is Prayer” that leads to the importance of the Word of God for our growth in deep personal prayer. This will be supported by the presentation of two simple methods of prayer, Lectio Divina am d Christian Mediation.Coming next will be a series of themes that help us both understand and better experience this prayer that calls us to change our ways to be free to walk with Jesus. Some of the topics are self-knowledge, composure of heart in prayer, difficulties in prayer, the stages of the spiritual life, practical consequences of being faithful to prayer and many more all leading to the strengthening our commitment of deep personal prayer.
In the end, we are all called to be one with God, to enter the deepest center of the Interior Castle that is our being. Here we can find out the answer to life’s truly big questions of who we are and both where we are going in life and how do we get there?
Deep Personal PrayerPart OneI
One of the distinguishing characteristics of deep personal prayer is its goal. It is about changing us rather than changing God.In my treatment of this style of prayer, I am going to use the definition of Thomas Merton and the added insights of Teresa of Avila.
Merton states:
“Prayer then means yearning for the simple presence of God, for a personal understanding of God’s Word, for knowledge of God’s will, and for the capacity to hear and obey God.”
Teresa says prayer “is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him we know loves us.” (L 8:5) All prayer must raise our awareness of God’s loving presence. Humility is the foundation of prayer. It moves us gradually to appreciate both our total dependence on God and that God has a better plan for our happiness.
In deep personal prayer we are engaging God’s Word. The Bible is the privileged location for this special encounter. However, the experiences of life can speak eloquently of God’s presence and call.
The encounter with God’s Word leads us to embrace God’s will, an appeal to forsake our selfishness and grow in generosity toward God and others. In this prayer, listening is the key. Psalm 119:105 tells us “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.” New insight into the reality of God’s will guides our way of living with the gifts of humility, love and service.
When I use the description of deep personal prayer it can include several types of prayer: vocal, mental, meditation, Lectio Divina, and contemplative prayer. The commitment to prayer requires a discipline to pray on a regular basis. This distinguishes this prayer from spontaneous prayer which can happen any time such as walking the dog, reading or watching a movie. Deep personal prayer is an effort to bring prayer into life habitually no matter how we feel. It might start out as only fifteen minutes a day but with commitment, discipline and generosity it will grow. It leads us in a journey of love whose final goal is to be totally in love with God. It will slowly but surely transform our lives.
Five Points of PrayerII
Merton’s definition of prayer has five important elements. The first item is paying attention to the presence of God. This requires a conscious effort to expand an awareness of the sacred. Secondly, we bring God’s Word into our mind to seek understanding and insight. Thirdly, this reflection should lead us to take hold of just what God wants of us. We respond in prayer often just resting quietly in the loving presence of God. Finally, we bring this new awareness to our life so the Word speaks to us and leads us to live in obedience to God’s call. Prayer is all about life and the way we live.
The prayer form of Lectio Divina is a helpful model in talking about deep personal prayer. Lectio Divina is a prayerful reading of the Bible or at times reflection on a profound personal experience. It involves four steps: reading, reflecting, responding and resting. There are many other methods of mental prayer or meditation. If you are familiar and more comfortable using other approaches, this is no problem. We need to use what works for us. We should always pray as we can, not as we ought. Likewise, vocal prayer that is practiced with a deep sense of presence and attention to what we are saying can be a help to personal transformation.
As we begin deep personal prayer, the first item is to gather ourselves so we can pay attention to the fact that we are in the loving presence of God. This is called recollection. Teresa stresses we aare invited to a dialogue that with one we know loves us. This centering of our focus, helps us to realize that God is very close. In fact, God never takes his eyes off of us.
In speaking about prayer, the Bible speaks of the heart almost a thousand times. It is the heart that is the source of prayer. The heart is where we encounter our most real self. It is our center far beyond our power of reason. In prayer, we want to bring the heart into an awareness of God. It is about a sense of presence seeking deeper communion with God. “Listen, I am standing at the door knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Rv 3:20)
The first two steps of Lectio Divina, the reading and the reflection, may take the majority of the time as we begin the quest for a deep personal prayer. However, their job is to bring us to a more concentrated sense of presence so we can seek communion. These last two steps are the goal of our prayer: to respond with an open heart and to rest in silence in the loving presence of the one we know loves us.
The single greatest obstacle to prayer is not to begin. The second is the relentless attack of distractions. The resolution of distractions is an on-going problem that needs much attention but ultimately it is about a return to our focus.
This experience of deep personal prayer seeks to discover the will of God in the concrete reality of our daily experience. True prayer empowers us to bring God’s love to our life in service of the kingdom.
The prayer form of Lectio Divina is a helpful model in talking about deep personal prayer. Lectio Divina is a prayerful reading of the Bible or at times reflection on a profound personal experience. It involves four steps: reading, reflecting, responding and resting. There are many other methods of mental prayer or meditation. If you are familiar and more comfortable using other approaches, this is no problem. We need to use what works for us. We should always pray as we can, not as we ought. Likewise, vocal prayer that is practiced with a deep sense of presence and attention to what we are saying can be a help to personal transformation.
As we begin deep personal prayer, the first item is to gather ourselves so we can pay attention to the fact that we are in the loving presence of God. This is called recollection. Teresa stresses we aare invited to a dialogue that with one we know loves us. This centering of our focus, helps us to realize that God is very close. In fact, God never takes his eyes off of us.
In speaking about prayer, the Bible speaks of the heart almost a thousand times. It is the heart that is the source of prayer. The heart is where we encounter our most real self. It is our center far beyond our power of reason. In prayer, we want to bring the heart into an awareness of God. It is about a sense of presence seeking deeper communion with God. “Listen, I am standing at the door knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.” (Rv 3:20)
The first two steps of Lectio Divina, the reading and the reflection, may take the majority of the time as we begin the quest for a deep personal prayer. However, their job is to bring us to a more concentrated sense of presence so we can seek communion. These last two steps are the goal of our prayer: to respond with an open heart and to rest in silence in the loving presence of the one we know loves us.
The single greatest obstacle to prayer is not to begin. The second is the relentless attack of distractions. The resolution of distractions is an on-going problem that needs much attention but ultimately it is about a return to our focus.
This experience of deep personal prayer seeks to discover the will of God in the concrete reality of our daily experience. True prayer empowers us to bring God’s love to our life in service of the kingdom.
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