By Steve Givens
“Use your imagination!”
We are so often told: “Use your imagination!” Especially when we are faced with thorny problems or seemingly unsolvable riddles. Often the easy answers are just not there on the surface of things. Sometimes we need to dig a little deeper and think in new and different ways to get to the heart of the matter.
During his recovery from a leg injury suffered in battle, the young St. Ignatius of Loyola learned to apply this same approach of the imagination when it came to prayer. Also known as the “application of the senses,” Ignatius introduces this kind of prayer in his Spiritual Exercises, saying that it is, “helpful to pass the five senses of the imagination” through our contemplation of Gospel stories. What he suggests, however, is something deeper than just the physical imagining of taste, smell, sight, hearing and touch to get at the meaning of a particular Gospel story. It’s about entering into an encounter of deeper intimacy with Jesus. It’s about meeting Jesus face to face.
Suggested Steps
Here are some suggested steps for this kind of contemplation[1]:
LOOK FOR ACTION: Ahead of your time of prayer, choose a passage from one of the gospels where something is “happening,” such as an important moment in the life of Christ or a miracle story. These “action stories,” often full of detail and local color, will make it easier to imagine and enter into them. For this reason, it’s often suggested to not use parables and sermons.
QUIET YOURSELF: As is true with other forms of contemplative prayer, it is helpful to quiet and prepare yourself for your time of encounter with Jesus. Still yourself and your mind. Turn off electronics. Pay attention to your breathing. Invite God or Jesus into this prayer time with you. Be open to being surprised. Ask for a “grace,” something specific that you desire from this experience, such as peace, clarity or courage.
MOVE TO THE STORY: Read the pre-selected text slowly, perhaps out loud or at least moving your lips, which will help you understand the passage more fully and keep you from just “scanning” a familiar story. Read it several times if necessary and get a sense of its meaning.
MOVE INTO THE STORY: Set your Bible aside and begin to place yourself in the story. You can imagine being one of the characters or you can just be yourself, perhaps looking on from the edge of the story. Here are a few tips for immersing yourself in the story:
- Don’t just retell the story in your mind; let it unfold in a new way.
- Observe what is going on. What do you see, hear, smell, taste and touch? Let these details emerge on their own.
- Participate in the dynamics of the scene. Who are you drawn to?
- Perhaps bring yourself face to face with Jesus. Talk to him and listen for response. Hear him say your name or imagine his touch.
- Notice what’s going on inside you. What emotions are you feeling?
- If you get distracted, gently return to the text and re-enter the scene.
- Don’t rush. Stay as long as you need or feel comfortable.
WRAP IT UP: As you exit the scene, enter into a short, personal conversation with God or Jesus. Speak as you would to a close friend. Leave room to listen. Perhaps Journal about your experience of prayer, responding to questions such as: what do you most remember, what was most powerful, what did you experience, what emotions surfaced, what surprised you?
Ignatius learned to pray like this during his time of recovery, encouraged by a book called the “The Life of Christ,” by Ludolph of Saxony, a German Catholic theologian of the fourteenth century. Ludolph writes:
“If you want to gain the greatest benefit from this exercise, put aside all other concerns and tasks, and with your whole heart strive with diligence, delight, and determination to be present when Jesus speaks and acts…imagine you are seeing each event with your own eyes and hearing it with your own ears…as if they are taking place now.”
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Editor’s note: This is the SECOND article in a series on PRAYER by Steve Givens, a spiritual director in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
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[1] Adapted from a number of sources, including Joe Tetlow’s “Choosing Christ in the World,” and Kevin O’Brien’s, “The Ignatian Adventure: Experiencing the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius in Daily Life.”
