Purpose of the Book
The primary aim of Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s book is to provide a clear and practical guide to two Ignatian methods for praying with Scripture: Meditation and Contemplation. These methods are designed to deepen the reader’s engagement with God’s Word, facilitating a personal and transformative encounter with Scripture.
Ignatian Meditation and Contemplation
- Ignatian Meditation involves a loving and reflective engagement with a Scripture passage, where the individual (1) recalls the truths in a passage, (2) ponders them deeply, and (3) embraces these truths with the heart.
- Ignatian Contemplation is a loving and imaginative immersion into a Gospel scene. Here, the person (1) envisions the people present, (2) listens to their words, and (3) observes their actions, actively participating in the event as if present.
These two methods serve as “gateways” into the richness of God’s Word, allowing the heart to follow the promptings of grace freely once engaged in the Scripture (p. 44).
Steps for Meditative and Contemplative Prayer
Preparation: Before beginning prayer, it is important to select a specific time and place and choose an appropriate Scripture passage. St. Ignatius suggests preparing this the night before, letting the passage be your final thought as you sleep and your first upon waking.
Five Tools to Prepare for Prayer:
- Consider God’s Gaze: Spend a brief moment contemplating how God views you with love, setting the tone for your prayer as a relational encounter: “I will consider how God our Lord looks upon me” (St. Ignatius).
- Offer Your Will and Actions to God: In a preparatory prayer, ask for the grace that all your intentions and actions be aligned with serving and praising God.
- Review the Scripture Passage: Read the chosen passage multiple times to internalize it, allowing yourself the freedom to close your eyes and enter the scene.
- Imaginatively Enter the Scene: Even in meditative prayer, imagine yourself within the event described in the Scripture, aiding your connection to the passage.
- Ask for What You Desire: Clearly express what you seek from this prayer, whether it be understanding, peace, or any other grace: Why am I praying today? What does my heart seek? Express your heart’s desire and ask for its fulfillment.
Body of the Prayer:
- Meditative Prayer: Engage the passage by (1) memory: recalling the truth with love, (2) understanding: pondering it deeply, and (3) will: embracing it with your heart.
- Contemplative Prayer: Actively participate in the scene by (1) seeing the persons involved, (2) hearing their words, and (3) observing their actions.
Conclusion:
End your prayer by speaking to God as your heart is moved (colloquy), and conclude with an Our Father, which serves as a bridge from the time of prayer to the rest of your day.
Reviewing the Prayer:
After prayer, review your experience to deepen your awareness of the grace received. Reflect on what thoughts, feelings, or movements of the heart occurred, and identify any struggles.
General Tips:
- Freedom: Adapt the method to your personal needs, allowing for flexibility. Stop at any point where you feel particularly moved in prayer, resting there as long as needed (St. Ignatius, SE 77).
- Perseverance: Be patient and consistent in your prayer practice, trusting in God’s presence and assistance.
- Colloquies: When heartfelt conversations with God arise naturally during prayer, give them primacy, even if they interrupt the planned structure.
- Authenticity: True growth in love is the ultimate confirmation of the authenticity of your prayer practice.
This guide by Fr. Gallagher emphasizes a dynamic and personal approach to prayer, encouraging a deep, ongoing relationship with God through the Scriptures.
Prodigal Catholic 
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