Heart Prayers

The files below invite you to contemplate and reflect deeper in your prayers. Each file contains a passage from the Scriptures for Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading), and an image for Visio Divina (Sacred Seeing).

Before starting your prayer session, let's start with a breathe prayer (breathing in on the first line, exhaling on the second) for a few moments to quiet the mind, and be aware of God's Presence:

 

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.

 

Glory be...

1. When you feel alone, abandoned, helpless.
2. When you feel scared, in the dark, doubtful.

For Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading):

1. Read the passage very slowly and feel which word or phrase grabs your attention. If nothing comes up, choose one that's meaningful for you at this moment.
2. Read the passage a second time. Say the word or phrase over and over again, like a mantra, letting the heart absorb it. And maybe an image or feeling or emotion comes up for you. Sit with this with love, without analysis.
3. Read the passage a third time. Let a prayer arise from the heart, as you connect the word or phrase with an issue or event you are working on at this moment in your life.
4. Rest in God. In silence. Without words. Listening. Waiting.
5. Gently come out of prayer. Reflect on how you can incorporate your experience to your daily life.

For Visio Divina (Sacred Seeing):

1. Look at the image very slowly and feel which element (color, shape) in the image grabs your attention. If nothing comes up, choose an area that's meaningful for you at this moment.
2. Look again at the image and your chosen element. Focus on your image, letting the heart absorb it. And maybe an image or feeling or emotion comes up for you. Sit with this with love, without analysis.
3. Look at whole image again. Softly closing the eyes, let a prayer arise from the heart, as you connect the feeling from the image with an issue or event you are working on at this moment in your life.
4. Rest in God. In silence. Without words. Listening. Waiting.
5. Gently come out of prayer. Reflect on how you can incorporate your experience to your daily life.