Editor’s be aware: All through July, we’re internet hosting 31 Days with St. Ignatius, a month-long celebration of Ignatian spirituality. Along with the calendar of Ignatian articles discovered right here, posts on dotMagis this month will discover the theme of “The Audacity of Ignatian Spirituality.”
Someday, I started praying utilizing John 21:4–19, and I made a decision to look at Peter having breakfast on the seashore with Jesus after the Resurrection. I used my 5 senses to think about the scene.
I pictured Peter welcoming me to sit down beside him on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. I heard waves lapping towards the boat, the place an incredible catch of fish occupied disciples.
“How generously God gives for us,” Peter mentioned.
As I watched disciples kind the fish, their completely satisfied feedback drifted over to me. “Right here’s a feast for an entire household!” one disciple mentioned, holding up a plump tilapia in each sun-bronzed fingers.
I smelled each the sturdy scent of fish and the hearth on which Jesus was cooking. I heard a shifting department crackle within the hearth. Out of the blue, a daring shift occurred.
“Do you like me?”
Jesus seemed proper into my eyes. And I assumed, Nicely, in fact, I do. I’m trying proper at you. The tip of Jesus’ mouth turned up.
“Loretta, do you actually love me?”
I imagined myself replying aloud this time. “Are we speaking about my neighbors and my household? As a result of, sure, I really like you and them.”
And now Jesus’ face broke into a real smile, and he requested me a 3rd time, “Loretta, do you like me?”
And I began to get it. Jesus wished me to like that super-difficult one who is inflicting me a lot ache proper now. What a flip of occasions! I by no means anticipated this once I sat to wish.
Addressing Skepticism About Ignatian Contemplation
And that is among the nice advantages of Ignatian contemplation, or imaginative prayer: God surprises. I thanked God for main me to this consciousness and closed my prayer interval.
I generally get questions from skeptics once I give retreats, resembling, “Isn’t it fairly audacious to make up tales that contain Jesus?”
I remind them that Jesus was an excellent storyteller and sometimes tapped into folks’s imaginations as he taught. Do not forget that Jesus requested folks to visualise the reign of God as a mustard seed, a treasure buried in a area, and different metaphors.
Implied within the question is a doubt: “Isn’t it presumptuous to suppose that God makes use of creativeness to speak? Who do you suppose you might be?”
I reply that I’m a treasured little one of the Most Excessive God, simply because the questioner is, and God invitations us, sinners although we’re, to convey our complete selves into intimate relationship with God. That provides me the audacity to think about speaking to the Maker of the Universe—and the wonderful Redeemer Jesus—like I’m speaking to a buddy.
After which I tackle the query, “Aren’t you simply making all of it up?”
I clarify that right here is the place discernment performs a job. It takes apply to decipher God’s inspirations from a crafty conniver’s. Some folks hear God in emotions, in sudden footage or concepts popping into their minds, in pleasant recommendation, or in lyrics. Others hear God by their imaginations. I don’t suppose I’m utilizing my creativeness as a lot as God is utilizing it.
God loves to speak with every of us straight and in myriad methods. Ignatian contemplation is, for me, a beautiful instrument to attract me into silence. I’m susceptible to distractions, however throughout imaginative prayer I’ve fewer of them.
St. Ignatius taught imaginative prayer for good causes. It helps us open ourselves to God, who needs to heal us and draw us deeper into loving relationship.
Some could also be tempted to low cost this prayer type as a result of it’s too daring. However when somebody is head over heels in love, like God is with us, we will get away with daring strikes.
Repeatedly God asks me to mimic the love Jesus has. It’s a love that allowed Jesus to forgive folks even whereas they crucified him. It’s a love that forgives every little thing. It’s a love that’s extremely audacious.
Picture: Konrad Witz, The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, 1444
Right now in 31 Days with St. Ignatius, Rebecca Ruiz shares the fruits of a Gospel contemplation in God Cares Concerning the Massive and Small. Use the hashtag #31DayswithIgnatius to share your ideas about imaginative prayer.
