Editor’s observe: Sacred House: The Prayer E book 2026 suggests six steps of prayer and contemplation for exploring the each day Scripture passages: The Presence of God, Freedom, Consciousness, The Phrase, Dialog, and Conclusion. We’ve invited our Ignatian bloggers to discover every step in our persevering with sequence.
The Phrase
God speaks to every of us individually. I must pay attention, to listen to what he’s saying to me. Learn the textual content a couple of occasions, then pay attention. (The Irish Jesuits, Sacred House: The Prayer E book 2026)
Throughout my first being pregnant, there was some ambiguity relating to my due date. One ultrasound examination instructed the start of Could and one other the top of Could. I felt a determined want for clarification. On the time, I had a each day reader wherein every day featured a brief Scripture passage and a mirrored image based mostly on these verses. I prayed, asking God to offer me some clue about when my child would arrive.
I turned to the chapter for Could and skim via every day’s reflection, looking for a touch. Solely the passage on Mom’s Day (Could 14 that 12 months) made me consider a child, however that appeared too apparent. I closed the ebook disenchanted, satisfied that God wasn’t going to offer me an indication. Once I delivered my son on Mom’s Day, it felt like God had a extremely good humorousness.
Searching for an indication usually means asking God to disclose his will via one thing exterior: circumstances, occasions, or uncommon happenings that time the best way. It’s steering that comes from outdoors of us.
However in praying with Sacred House: The Prayer E book, what we search is totally different. As an alternative of trying outward for an indication, we place ourselves earlier than God whereas studying Scripture slowly and attentively, permitting God to talk to our hearts via the Phrase. The main focus isn’t on exterior affirmation however on an internal stirring or quiet readability that grows from prayer.
This type of studying or listening comes from a posture of accepting what God is revealing, trusting that we’ll get what we want, once we want it. Within the instance above, I wished to know my due date. I didn’t need to wait. However after I go to the residing Phrase of God and skim it with an open coronary heart, I’m residing out St. Ignatius’s Precept and Basis. I settle for my position in God’s world in his time.
One Friday night throughout a tough time, I opened my missal to the prayers for Vespers, and Psalm 46 appeared. As I learn the passage about God’s safety for me it doesn’t matter what, I felt calm start to push the anxious ideas apart. Then towards the top of the psalm, I learn: “Be nonetheless, and know that I’m God!”
I’ve heard this phrase many occasions, and but the phrase nonetheless jumped out at me. Wanting up the definition, I used to be provided these meanings: immobile, calm or at relaxation, silent, coninuing or lasting with out change. At its root the phrase means standing agency, unmoving and quiet.
The night time that I pulled out my missal to learn Psalm 46, I’d unconsciously gone into combat, flight, or freeze mode. I started planning what I might do if a selected state of affairs occurred. I used to be devising methods to deal with a state of affairs that may or won’t happen. Like a chess participant plotting out my subsequent 4 strikes, my nervousness started constructing. I’d nearly labored myself right into a full panic.
The decision to be nonetheless helped me discover what I’d been doing. I reread the phrases, “Be nonetheless, and know that I’m God!” I ended and took a couple of deep breaths. I requested God to assist me be nonetheless. I imagined a stream of working water gathering right into a deep, quiet, and calm pool. Like these deep, cool waters, I attempted to stay calm, permitting issues to settle additional in order that I might see via what was occurring.
I see how God communicates with me the entire time. Generally the message isn’t as clear.
“Be nonetheless and know” bubbles up once more. I’m not alone. God is with me. He’s larger than I and is my safety. Practising stillness lengthy sufficient, I naturally start to “know that God is God, and I’m not.” I don’t need to do something. God can take over. Remaining immobile and trusting permits peace to start to enter my being.
As these ideas unfold, I see how God communicates with me the entire time. Generally the message isn’t as clear. Sitting with it a bit of longer permits it to unfold. Possibly I’m not prepared for all the message. However with time, it would reveal itself. God is affected person and loving.
The Phrase holds the important thing to my life. It’s a method for God to direct my life. Returning to it every day teaches me extra about who God is and who I’m as his creation. The Phrase retains us correctly ordered in {our relationships} with God.
Strive the Sacred House method of praying this Introduction. Sacred House for Introduction and the Christmas Season 2025–26 is now accessible for under $5.
