Once we understand the basics of mental prayer, a question often arises: “How exactly does sitting in silence make me holy?”
It is not magic. It is a spiritual and psychological process where grace builds on nature. The saints teach us that mental prayer is the primary engine for spiritual growth, designed to heal our interior faculties—the intellect, the imagination, and the will—and align them with God.
If you are ready to move beyond the basics, this guide explores the theology of how prayer changes us and offers three distinct methods from the great spiritual masters to help you find the path that resonates most with you.
The Anatomy of Holiness: How Prayer Changes Us
Saint Paul urges us in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God.”
Mental prayer is the tool for this renewal of the mind. It works by engaging the three powers of the soul:
Re-forming the Intellect
The intellect informs the heart. We cannot love what we do not know. When we discipline our minds to consider the truths of God—rather than the distractions of the news or social media—our intellect is re-formed. As the Holy Spirit gives light to the mind, we begin to see the world as God sees it. We move from “earthly thinking” to “heavenly thinking” (Philippians 4).
Healing the Imagination
We live in a culture saturated with provocative, enticing, and often sinful images that appeal to our lower appetites. These images often haunt our memories and burden our spirits.
Mental prayer purifies the imagination by giving it “heavenly food” to feast on. When we use our imagination to picture the Passion of Our Lord or the humility of the Blessed Virgin, we crowd out the bad images with the good. As we interact with Christ in prayer, He heals the “wounded imagination” just as He healed the sick in Galilee, restoring our inner peace.
Fortifying the Will
With the intellect seeing the truth and the imagination filled with hope, the will is finally free to choose the good. The goal of all mental prayer is to strengthen the will so that, when we face a difficult choice in the real world, we choose God over our own comfort.
3 Time-Tested Methods of Mental Prayer
There is no “one size fits all” in the spiritual life. The Church offers various traditions to help us engage in this transformative work. Here are three very effective methods developed by the saints.
1. Ignatian Prayer (The Imagination)
Best for: Visual thinkers and those who love stories.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, understood the power of the imagination to motivate the will. In his Spiritual Exercises, he teaches a method of “entering” the Gospel stories.
- The Method: Do not just read the parable; be there. Imagine the setting of the Nativity—the cold air, the smell of hay. Place yourself in the scene as a bystander. Focus on bringing the details of the scene to your senses within your imagination. Smell the scents of the field as Christ preaches to the gathering crowd, etc.
- The Goal: Ignatius wants us to experience Jesus in the “now.” Notice how He interacts with people; watch His face. By being captivated by His love in the story, our hearts are moved to love Him in reality. Ignatius also recommends staying with the same subject for several days. And if a specific scene moves you, do not rush past it. Dig deep until it transforms your understanding.
2. Salesian Prayer (The Practical Guide)
Best for: Beginners and those who need a concrete structure.
St. Francis de Sales, in his Introduction to the Devout Life, offers a method that is clear, step-by-step, and incredibly practical for laypeople.
- The Method: It begins with verbal prayer, acknowledging God’s presence, then follows up with an act of contrition and a prayer for grace to see what God would reveal to us. It also engages the imagination using spiritual reading to bring the divine mysteries into the present, as if unfolding before our eyes. St Francis De Sales also encourages staying with those aspects of the meditation that are particularly speaking to us and not to rush on while there is still more to be gleaned.
- The Goal: The Salesian method is known for its emphasis on the “Resolution.” You must leave prayer with a specific, actionable task. He also encourages gathering a “Spiritual Bouquet”—taking one insight or phrase from your prayer and smelling it (remembering it) throughout the day to keep bringing you back into God’s presence.
3. Teresian Prayer (The Relationship)
Best for: Those seeking intimacy and silence, and who desire less structure.
St. Teresa of Avila, a Carmelite mystic, viewed prayer less as a method and more as a relationship. She famously defined mental prayer as “nothing else than an intimate friendship, a frequent heart-to-heart with Him by whom we know ourselves to be loved.”
- The Method: This approach is less structured than the others. While it may start with reading, the goal is “less thinking and more loving.” Saint Teresa encouraged forging a deep, intimate union with God through a loving silence and recollection in which the Holy Spirit works to enlighten and transform us. Saint Teresa does not specifically instruct on making resolutions; however, she still emphasizes the importance of mental prayer bearing good fruit in our lives.
- The Goal: Deep interior silence. It is not easy for beginners, but the aim is to simply be with God, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in the silence. It focuses on the “Prayer of Quiet” and deepening union with the Divine Guest within.
Which Method is Right for You?
Many other saints, including St. Augustine and St. Bonaventure, taught variations of these methods. The key is to remember that the method is not the goal; the goal is God.
You are free to experiment. You might find that Ignatian visualization helps you during Advent, while Salesian structure helps you during a busy work week. As long as your meditation is Christ-centered and founded on Church teaching, the Holy Spirit will use it to lead you to deeper conversion.
FAQ: Choosing a Method of Prayer
1. Can I mix different methods of mental prayer?
Yes. The Church does not require you to strictly adhere to one school of spirituality. You might use St. Francis de Sales’ “preparation” steps, but use St. Ignatius’ “imaginative” technique for the body of the prayer. The best method is the one that helps you love God more and sin less.
2. Is Teresian prayer the same as “Centering Prayer”?
No. While St. Teresa emphasizes silence, her prayer is always focused on the Person of Christ and a relationship with Him. “Centering prayer” attempts to empty the mind of all thoughts, including thoughts of Christ, which the Church warns can lead to New Age errors. Teresian prayer seeks to fill the soul with love for God, not emptiness.
3. What if I can’t visualize scenes like St. Ignatius suggests?
Not everyone is a visual learner. If you struggle to “picture” the Gospel scenes, do not force it. You may be better suited for the Salesian method (using a book/text) or Lectio Divina, which focuses on the words of Scripture rather than the images.
4. How do I know if my mental prayer is working?
The fruit of mental prayer is seen in your life outside of prayer. Are you growing in patience? Are you more charitable? Are you better able to resist your dominant vice? If you are growing in virtue, your prayer is working, even if you don’t “feel” spiritual during the prayer time itself.
