What is mental prayer and how you can do it?

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St. Therese of Lisieux. (Public Domain).

Catholics divide prayer into 2 broad categories – vocal and mental. Vocal prayer includes prayers written for recitation. Mental prayer is prayer in one’s own words.
St. Teresa of Avila wrote, “Mental prayer, in my view, is nothing but friendly intercourse, and frequent solitary converse, with Him Who we know loves us." St. Thérèse of Lisieux likewise wrote, “With me prayer is an uplifting of the heart; a glance towards heaven; a cry of gratitude and love, uttered equally in sorrow and in joy."

Catholics are generally comfortable with vocal prayer, but mental prayer can leave us at a loss. How can you spend 20 minutes or more in prayer without a pre-written text? How can you keep your prayer from becoming mere rambling?

Read to learn a suggested form of mental prayer.

Comments

  1. Unknown8:39 am, February 23, 2013

    I clicked through to read the expanded post. Excellent prayer primer, and good to get the encouragement during Lent.

    Although this may not be the proper place to ask the question, is there an application process for other Catholic Women bloggers to offer their blogposts on a regular basis here? I started a marriage support blog at http://canwecana.blogspot.com and would love to be a part of this association if it's accepting new bloggers. You can respond privately at santoskaree@gmail.com.

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