🌿 CONTEMPLATIO – Contemplation
"Show me your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely."
Song of Songs 2:14
After reading, meditation and prayer comes silence. Not emptiness, but filled silence – with God's presence. In the Contemplatio step we no longer try to speak or analyze – we simply are.
🕊️ What is Contemplatio?
Contemplatio is resting in God. It's not effort, it's not performance – it's being in love. After we listened to the Word in lectio, reflected on it in meditatio and responded in oratio, now we remain in His presence.
Without expectations. Without words. Just with the desire to be with Him.
"Silence is God's first language. Everything else is a poor translation." — Thomas Keating
🙌 How to practice contemplation?
🔸 Surrender to God
- • Sit or kneel in a comfortable but alert position
- • Close your eyes
- • Breathe peacefully. Slow the rhythm of body and soul
- • Let all thoughts go – don't push them away, just let them float away
Intention: Be open to God's presence. Don't ask
🔸 Perceive and receive
- • Sometimes you'll experience peace, clarity, comfort. Other times nothing. Both are good
- • God doesn't come on demand – He comes from love
- • Your silence is a sign that you're waiting for Him
Contemplation is a gift. You can't force it, but you can open yourself to it.
🕯️ Aids for contemplation
Contemplation is inner rest, but sometimes we need an 'anchor' to help us remain in presence.
Jesus Prayer
“"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."”
Repeat it in silence, with your heart, as the rhythm of breath.
Heart prayer
“Rosary or other repeated prayer”
Repetition of prayer helps deepen concentration and remain in love.
Visual aid
“Candle flame or icon”
Let your gaze become a gaze of faith – on the One who is present.
Word from Scripture
“Verse that spoke to you”
You can keep the text before you – let it guide you into depth.
🌅 Contemplatio in daily life
Contemplation is not reserved only for the prayer room. It's a life attitude. When you learn to rest in the Lord during prayer, you'll discover that you can perceive His presence in everyday moments:
"Contemplation is inner seeing. It's life in intimate awareness that God is near – even when we don't feel Him."
✍️ Practical guidance
Preparing for silence
Create an environment for contemplation
Find a quiet place where nothing will disturb you. Sit comfortably but stay alert. You can light a candle or place an icon before you. Close your eyes and slow your breathing rhythm.
Let thoughts go
Don't push them away, just let them float away
When thoughts about work, worries or plans come, don't push them away forcefully. Simply observe them like clouds in the sky and let them go. Gently return to God's presence.
Breathe with God
Use breath as a path to presence
Breathe peacefully and naturally. You can say "Lord Jesus" on the inhale and "have mercy" on the exhale. Or simply perceive breath as a gift of life from God. Let breath unite you with Him.
Use a spiritual anchor
Aids for maintaining attention
If you have trouble concentrating, help yourself: repeat the Jesus Prayer, watch a candle flame, or repeat a verse that spoke to you. These "anchors" will help you stay in God's presence.
Simply be
Expect nothing, just receive presence
Don't expect any special feelings or experiences. It's enough to know that God is here and you are with Him. Even if you feel nothing exceptional, contemplation is happening. Love doesn't always have to be felt, but it's always present.
📝 Example of contemplation
After praying about "Do not be afraid" I settle into silence.
I close my eyes and breathe peacefully. I let go of all thoughts about tomorrow, work, worries.
I'm simply here - with God. I don't expect anything special. I just receive His presence.
If my mind wanders to fear about the interview, I gently say to myself: "You are here, Lord" and return to presence.
I may not feel anything exceptional. But I know He is here. And that's enough.
I remain like this for 5-10 minutes in simple being with Him.
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you." (John 15:4)
⛲ Gifts of contemplation
Peace
that the world cannot give
Unity
with Christ who dwells in you
Humility and gratitude
because everything is a gift
Simplicity
it's enough to be. With Him.
🔜 Ready to transform your prayer into action?
From contemplation springs the final step of Lectio Divina – ACTIO, where the Word is transformed into life. But stay a moment longer... in silence. In God's closeness. In love.
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you." (John 15:4)