Ignatian Contemplation
 

Contemplation is the fundamental prayer in Ignatian Spirituality.  It is not a type of prayer that seeks solutions to questions or problems.  Contemplation is being present to the mystery of an event and to its meaning.  It is not about discovering ideas or finding practical conclusions, it is about being present to a scene in such a way that the scene produces its effects in the depths of our hearts.

This is not an experience that is unknown to us.  We do it all the time.  When we gaze at a sunset or the ocean, when we feel held by the magic of a baby's smile, or the timeless awe of death, we are present to the mystery of the event.  There are no conclusions to be drawn or solutions to be applied, we simply are in the reality of the moment, in the eternal now.

Ignatian contemplation is about becoming more deeply in love with God.  It is a "looking long" at Jesus in the Gospels, his words, his actions, his attitudes, his way of being, the quality of his presence.  It is letting the beauty, the truth, the mystery of his person and personality sink deeply into our hearts.  When they do, we are affected, we are changed, we are transformed and lifted to his level of beauty and truth.  We feel more acquainted with Jesus, more in touch with him.  In other words, we have fallen more deeply in love with him.  Contemplation does not bring the Gospel down to our level, it lifts us up to the level of the Gospel.  Looking long lets the mystery penetrate to the depths of the heart and transforms us into Christ.

An example may help.  Let us consider the story of the "Prodigal Son."  We place ourselves in the scene.  Where are we?  Do we find ourselves with the father out looking for his son to return?  With the son in his uncertain walk back to his father?  With the angry older son?  What are we feeling? hope? resentments? indifference? Maybe none of the above.  Be with whatever strikes you and thank God, if nothing strikes you, thank God.  There is no pass or fail in prayer.  It's the intention, the desire that counts.  We don't judge our feelings, we simply accept them and ask what the Spirit is trying to show us.  We open our hearts to the truth of this story and see what it is saying to us.  There is no hurry or expectations about what we should be getting out of this.  We simply stay in the presence of God and be attentive to whatever strikes us.  The more this becomes our practice, the more we see the events of our lives with contemplative eyes and find ourselves encountering God in all things.  This is the fruit of Ignatian Contemplation.

Larry Gooley, SJ
Guideposts - A Resource Handbook for Christian Life Community, 2006