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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
confusion with contemplation	nelson	Monday, January 16, 2012
Question: hi im struggling with some confusion about being silent and listening for god to talk im confused by the idea that interior silence and exterior silence is needed to hear god talk now ive read many places about centering prayer and emptying the mind so how do i draw the line between interior silence and emptying the mind in a dangerous way ? ive tried to listen to my heart beat to hear gods voice and have felt a warm pleasurable feeling in my heart that sadly caused me to be aroused sexually and have felt a warm breeze go up my nose and a presence and have had spirits hassel me when i try to sleep by touching me in sexual ways which made me even more weary about trying to draw close to god this way because i dont want to open myself to evil spirits please help im a devout catholic recieving sacraments regularly thanx
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), L.Th., D.D. Nelson: These negative experiences may be attacks of the devil, since the devil will not wish you to properly pray. The first step is to never, never go to "Centering Prayer" (see The Danger of Centering Prayer) or any method that "empties the mind". Such techniques are condemned by the Church (see On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation?). Second, read the Catechism on the various types of prayer. Third, I would advice that you purchase the book, Fire Within, by Fr. Thomas DuBay. This book is great to learn the nature of prayer. Father takes St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila, the two Great Doctors of Prayer, and synthesizes their teaching in a way that is understandable and reachable. Father DuBay's Retreat on Prayer is availble on CD from the Catholic Spiritual Direction website. So how to we pray this sort of prayer? Fr. James Farfaglia give these examples: Your contemplative prayer time is going to be a personal journey guided by the Holy Spirit. However, here are some suggestions that may help you. Before the Blessed Sacrament - sit or kneel. Gaze into the Tabernacle or look into the Monstrance. Be still. Focus on your breathing. Ask Mary to help you to pray. Pray to the Holy Spirit. Then peacefully repeat a word or a phrase: Jesus; Jesus I love you; Jesus I trust in you; Father; Father, into your hands I commend my spirit, etc. Don't continue to repeat the word or the words over and over again. Only use the word or the phrase when your mind begins to wander. Focus your gaze on the Eucharist. Be open to whatever Jesus is asking of you. At home - sit or kneel. Close your eyes. Again, be still and focus on your breathing. Ask Mary to help you to pray. Pray to the Holy Spirit. As before, repeat a word or a phrase, rooted in the scripture, the creed, a prayer or an aspect of our Christian faith. Do not repeat the word or words over and over again. Remember to use the word only when your mind begins to wander. Focus your gaze on the loving presence of God within you. If you begin to feel embraced by God, be still and be silent. Just allow the Holy Spirit to pray within you. Contemplative prayer does not empty your mind, but rather fills your mind with the Love of God. It is as Psalm 46:10 tells us, "Be still and know that I am God." This should get you started down the right path. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

confusion with contemplation

nelson

Monday, January 16, 2012

Question:

hi

im struggling with some confusion about being silent and listening for god to talk

im confused by the idea that interior silence and exterior silence is needed to hear god talk

now ive read many places about centering prayer and emptying the mind

so how do i draw the line between interior silence and emptying the mind in a dangerous way ?

ive tried to listen to my heart beat to hear gods voice and have felt a warm pleasurable feeling in my heart that sadly caused me to be aroused sexually and have felt a warm breeze go up my nose and a presence and have had spirits hassel me when i try to sleep by touching me in sexual ways which made me even more weary about trying to draw close to god this way because i dont want to open myself to evil spirits please help

im a devout catholic recieving sacraments regularly

thanx

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), L.Th., D.D.

Nelson:

These negative experiences may be attacks of the devil, since the devil will not wish you to properly pray.

The first step is to never, never go to "Centering Prayer" (see The Danger of Centering Prayer) or any method that "empties the mind". Such techniques are condemned by the Church (see On Some Aspects of Christian Meditation?).

Second, read the Catechism on the various types of prayer.

Third, I would advice that you purchase the book, Fire Within, by Fr. Thomas DuBay. This book is great to learn the nature of prayer. Father takes St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila, the two Great Doctors of Prayer, and synthesizes their teaching in a way that is understandable and reachable.

Father DuBay's Retreat on Prayer is availble on CD from the Catholic Spiritual Direction website.

So how to we pray this sort of prayer? Fr. James Farfaglia give these examples:

Your contemplative prayer time is going to be a personal journey guided by the Holy Spirit. However, here are some suggestions that may help you.

Before the Blessed Sacrament - sit or kneel. Gaze into the Tabernacle or look into the Monstrance. Be still. Focus on your breathing. Ask Mary to help you to pray. Pray to the Holy Spirit. Then peacefully repeat a word or a phrase: Jesus; Jesus I love you; Jesus I trust in you; Father; Father, into your hands I commend my spirit, etc. Don't continue to repeat the word or the words over and over again. Only use the word or the phrase when your mind begins to wander. Focus your gaze on the Eucharist. Be open to whatever Jesus is asking of you.

At home - sit or kneel. Close your eyes. Again, be still and focus on your breathing. Ask Mary to help you to pray. Pray to the Holy Spirit. As before, repeat a word or a phrase, rooted in the scripture, the creed, a prayer or an aspect of our Christian faith. Do not repeat the word or words over and over again. Remember to use the word only when your mind begins to wander. Focus your gaze on the loving presence of God within you. If you begin to feel embraced by God, be still and be silent. Just allow the Holy Spirit to pray within you.

Contemplative prayer does not empty your mind, but rather fills your mind with the Love of God. It is as Psalm 46:10 tells us, "Be still and know that I am God."

This should get you started down the right path.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum