Wanting to be close to God

Introduction to The Devout Life
Part Two, Chapters 1 – 9 (pp. 85-100)
Group 1
(Steve, John, Rey, Cecilia)
6 October 2006

1. Prayer

Prayer of the mind and of the heart is really necessary for us if we want to be close to God. ‘As children learn to speak by constantly listening to their mothers and chattering to them’ (p.85), so we remaining close to Jesus makes us think, act and behave like Him. A baby can learn how to speak quickly if his/her parents/relatives speak to them often. A little boy imitates his father’s ways of doing because he is close to him and wishes to be like his father one day. A little girl is eager to try the cosmetics of her mother because she wants to be like her.

2. Rosary

We agree that the Rosary is a very helpful way of prayer. We shared that there are several ways of praying the Rosary such as with illustration of pictures, with the biblical images brought out, with meditation on the mysteries and with intentions to pray for the needs of the world. We can also pray the Rosary individually or in small groups.

3. Meditation

The method recommended in these chapters is very practical. However, we understood that the method is just to help. The main thing is to keep the good movements of the will. ‘…immediately after the preparation for meditation, your good movements of the will are wholly aroused towards God. At such times, give vent to them freely and do not try to follow the method….’

As long as we find sufficient inspiration, just go on very gently and without any hurry.
There is an insistence of transforming from the movement of wills to action. ‘…do not linger too long with these general good movements of the will. You have to change them into deliberate decisions, precise and particular…’ (p. 95) Just like after the Transfiguration, Jesus told the disciples not to linger to the blissful experience but to move on to the mission.
After all, we find there is a tune of to move gently, do not rush prayer, do not force it, just enter into the flow through out the process. It is the prayer moves to the Spirit.

4. Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina could be a kind of biblical inspiration. It is not a substitute of the meditation, but it helps a lot to the growth of our spiritual life.

Cecilia