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By Timothy M. Gallagher OMV - Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture
The cornerstones of Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual practice—meditation and contemplation—are clearly explained in this simple guide to the Ignatian method with examples from the experience of practitioners and quotations from Catholic spiritual teachers. In the process, the deeper structure of the spiritual practice is illuminated, and advice about adapting it to individual needs is offered. Topics include methods of praying, struggles and growth, and the importance and role of grace. Individuals who desire to pray with scripture, spiritual directors, and all who teach prayer with scripture will benefit from the counsel in this resource.
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First published September 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 11, 2020
I went on an 8-Day Silent Retreat a year ago that was built around the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius. On that retreat, my prayer was so rich and the Lord’s voice was so clear. Since then, my prayer has been relatively silent... until this book taught me how to pray in the style of Saint Ignatius all over again. My prayer has been exciting again, but the book itself is not exciting - and the endless examples that the author employs at times drove me a little crazy. Nonetheless, the author’s language is clear, simple, and shares the truth that I needed to hear. I would recommend it.
July 21, 2023
I love Fr. TG, and the stories and quotes in this book were beautiful, but I kind of wish the book was a bit more explicit and clear about the steps/details for Ignatian contemplation and meditation.
June 9, 2022
This book can and is designed to change the way that you pray. That can seem a bit alarming, for there might not be anything more personal than that. Yet, in practice, it goes further. It changes your relationship with Christ and strengthens it. In so doing, it can affect how you live your life; for it impacts the decisions you make throughout the day. It can make you feel like you're not alone (because you never are). This book was recommended to me and I'll be forever grateful.
October 9, 2020
This book was recommended to me & the recommendation did not disappoint.
It’s a short book, but you will want to take your time reading it. Read a bit, stop, and take it all in. The author does a great job at explaining Ignatian Prayer. Explained very simply. He also gives you real-life examples of the prayer techniques being discussed. It’s just wonderful.
There is not just one way to pray. There’s not necessarily a right and a wrong way. It’s all unique to our own relationship with God.
After reading this book I realize that I already do a lot of meditation (reflection) when I pray with Scripture. A lot. And I stay there for a long time reflecting on the Word. It’s wonderful. I look forward to using contemplation in my prayer.
Highly recommend this book.
It’s a short book, but you will want to take your time reading it. Read a bit, stop, and take it all in. The author does a great job at explaining Ignatian Prayer. Explained very simply. He also gives you real-life examples of the prayer techniques being discussed. It’s just wonderful.
There is not just one way to pray. There’s not necessarily a right and a wrong way. It’s all unique to our own relationship with God.
After reading this book I realize that I already do a lot of meditation (reflection) when I pray with Scripture. A lot. And I stay there for a long time reflecting on the Word. It’s wonderful. I look forward to using contemplation in my prayer.
Highly recommend this book.
September 24, 2023
Timothy M. Gallageher is one of the most popular introducers of Ignatian spirituality. He writes books on the various elements of this spirituality, such as his earlier The Examen Prayer. Now the turn has come to the issue of Ignatian scriptural contemplation. This is one of core the core tenets of the Jesuit tradition for both lay people and religious.
Gallagher does a good job of describing what is going on. He divides prayer into two types. The meditative and the contemplative. The former uses more of the intellect and is meant to ponder a particular passage of the Bible while the latter uses images to delve into the sacred text. He then goes on to describe the classic steps, which are staples of St Ignatius' spiritual exercises. Preparation of the prayer, the beginning of the prayer and then the actual wrestling with the text. The endings and how we should carry the fruits of meditation with us.
n other words, it is a pedagogical, reasonable presentation of a beloved prayer. How does the content live up to the form? Unfortunately not.
I don't know if it's my personal antipathy to an extremely Americanised take on the tradition. Or if it is the way it is written. But although there is some useful information in the book, it is extremely unspiritual. The book is more or less structured as an interview book. Where different people talk about their experiences of the different stages of prayer. Gallaghar then summarises. No deepening. We get a small presentation at the beginning of each chapter, but it is almost anorexic. Instead, we are referred to lay people describing their own experiences of a prayer that is so amazing, where everything is so fanatical and good, and life-changing. The result is that we move on the surface, never penetrating, a spiritual director often has so much experience of their own prayer and others' struggle with the same that all this spiritual fervour and pain can be crystallised into wisdom. Spiritual gems. That doesn't happen here. Instead we touch the surface where the concrete steps are described and then we get a series of born-again (if not in reality then in language and style) tributes to these different steps.
The rather random quotes and statements take up most of the book. And the useful ones, and there are, could easily be boiled down to an article of 3 or three pages instead of a book of a hundred.
While the book is useful, it is more like a bulleted list of the steps than an introduction or guide through a difficult and valuable spiritual practice. And that's what's missing the most, the spiritual depth, the darkness, the difficulties, although some are mentioned, it's all on such a superficial level that it's hard to take seriously.
Gallagher does a good job of describing what is going on. He divides prayer into two types. The meditative and the contemplative. The former uses more of the intellect and is meant to ponder a particular passage of the Bible while the latter uses images to delve into the sacred text. He then goes on to describe the classic steps, which are staples of St Ignatius' spiritual exercises. Preparation of the prayer, the beginning of the prayer and then the actual wrestling with the text. The endings and how we should carry the fruits of meditation with us.
n other words, it is a pedagogical, reasonable presentation of a beloved prayer. How does the content live up to the form? Unfortunately not.
I don't know if it's my personal antipathy to an extremely Americanised take on the tradition. Or if it is the way it is written. But although there is some useful information in the book, it is extremely unspiritual. The book is more or less structured as an interview book. Where different people talk about their experiences of the different stages of prayer. Gallaghar then summarises. No deepening. We get a small presentation at the beginning of each chapter, but it is almost anorexic. Instead, we are referred to lay people describing their own experiences of a prayer that is so amazing, where everything is so fanatical and good, and life-changing. The result is that we move on the surface, never penetrating, a spiritual director often has so much experience of their own prayer and others' struggle with the same that all this spiritual fervour and pain can be crystallised into wisdom. Spiritual gems. That doesn't happen here. Instead we touch the surface where the concrete steps are described and then we get a series of born-again (if not in reality then in language and style) tributes to these different steps.
The rather random quotes and statements take up most of the book. And the useful ones, and there are, could easily be boiled down to an article of 3 or three pages instead of a book of a hundred.
While the book is useful, it is more like a bulleted list of the steps than an introduction or guide through a difficult and valuable spiritual practice. And that's what's missing the most, the spiritual depth, the darkness, the difficulties, although some are mentioned, it's all on such a superficial level that it's hard to take seriously.
September 17, 2023
Gallagher is a great expositor of the teachings of St. Ignatius. Like a master guiding a student in their first letters, here he outlines the method of prayer and contemplation proposed by the Saint in his Spiritual Exercises. Thanks to him, those instructions that we theoretically already know (if only because they are now part of the Church's culture) become more vivid and effective.
Prayer should be personal; everyone follows their own paths and develops their own ways, guided by the grace of God. Yet, I believe examining a precise method can be helpful, even if only to gain some ideas or to increase awareness of what one is doing.
I've drawn many insights from this book. The only drawback for me was the numerous personal examples - almost like testimonials. However, this might be a matter of my sensitivity, and perhaps others might find them appealing.
Prayer should be personal; everyone follows their own paths and develops their own ways, guided by the grace of God. Yet, I believe examining a precise method can be helpful, even if only to gain some ideas or to increase awareness of what one is doing.
I've drawn many insights from this book. The only drawback for me was the numerous personal examples - almost like testimonials. However, this might be a matter of my sensitivity, and perhaps others might find them appealing.
June 15, 2020
Wonderful book, again, Gallagher didn't dissapoint :).
It's a collection of short journal entries from people who meditate on the scriptures regularly: their struggles, their habits, people who just started, people who have been doing it for many years, mothers who find time only in the morning, before the children wake up, workers who do it while commuting... It's easy to read and motivating.
I would change only one thing about it: I felt like I lacked the bases, the theory behind the examples. But maybe it's in some other book of Gallagher's and I read them in the wrong order. Or maybe there's just not much theory :).
It's a collection of short journal entries from people who meditate on the scriptures regularly: their struggles, their habits, people who just started, people who have been doing it for many years, mothers who find time only in the morning, before the children wake up, workers who do it while commuting... It's easy to read and motivating.
I would change only one thing about it: I felt like I lacked the bases, the theory behind the examples. But maybe it's in some other book of Gallagher's and I read them in the wrong order. Or maybe there's just not much theory :).
November 23, 2025
this is a very short guide that hits the highlights. I thought it had a few too many examples. I've been on two silent retreats where I've been trying to dig in to some of the ignatian practices and I have found them beneficial and fulfilling both in that setting and in trying to incorporate them in to the routine of daily prayer life.
November 16, 2017
I thought this book was great! I took my time reading it, slowly applying the Ignatian guidelines to my own prayer life. It’s been very helpful in orienting my prayer life and teaching me discipline and structure
February 2, 2018
Great Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality
This is a great book for those that practice Ignatian Spirituality and would like to share it with others. It also serves as a great review for those practicing as well!
This is a great book for those that practice Ignatian Spirituality and would like to share it with others. It also serves as a great review for those practicing as well!
January 21, 2019
Wonderful little book that serves as a guide to meditation, reflective prayer and contemplation, imaginative prayer. Fr. Gallagher describes the steps for these types of prayer and provides anecdotes from the prayer life of different people.
January 4, 2023
Enjoyed and personally found it helpful, though sometimes the anecdotes don't connect. With that said, they are many and varied and overall give the impression that anyone can do this, and the application can widely vary.
September 28, 2017
Very accessible and approachable book on praying with Scripture using St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises. Breaks the process down in simple easy steps to get you started.
February 24, 2021
Simple, practical, and packed with examples and insights. This is a great guide to praying with scripture.
March 20, 2022
It is a decent introductory book on Ignatian Meditation, focused on experiences of several individuals. I do hope there is more rigor to it beyond these examples - therefore three stars.
April 10, 2022
To the point, short, simple, easy to follow practical encouragement for ways to deepen and personalize your prayer life using scripture.
April 15, 2024
Excellent book
August 12, 2024
Very very good book on prayer… Especially for beginners
October 20, 2014
Prayer can be one of the most difficult things to do. Finding new ways of prayer may help on the spiritual path and this is what I found by reading Meditation and Contemplation.
St. Ignatius developed a way to pray using Scripture. By utilizing the imagination, the reader can insert themselves into Scripture. While my Reformed bones scream at this, there is something to be said for attempting to use the Scripture while praying.
The book really deals with people's experiences using Ignatius' prayer methods. In that regard, it was truly helpful because often times books about prayer can lack insight into how to do this "in the real world." To hear about others successes and struggles helps strengthen the point of the author.
The writing is clear and simple and the book is very short.
I highly encourage this book to pastors, teachers, and all interested in the life of prayer.
Grade: A
September 15, 2016
This is my second book on learning to pray. For me this was a more approachable book than Dan Burke's Finding God Through Meditation.
Fr. Gallagher does well to share experiences of real people who are learning to pray with scripture through meditation and contemplation. Their comments and insights bring the methods of St Ignatius to life.
I recommend this to Catholics who want to deepen their relationship with God through prayer. Non-Catholic Christians also may appreciate this book as well.
Fr. Gallagher does well to share experiences of real people who are learning to pray with scripture through meditation and contemplation. Their comments and insights bring the methods of St Ignatius to life.
I recommend this to Catholics who want to deepen their relationship with God through prayer. Non-Catholic Christians also may appreciate this book as well.
December 16, 2008
This is one of the most readable guides to Ignatian prayer that I've found. The real-life examples got a little long for me, but they worked to illustrate the stages of the prayer in a non-intimidating way.
November 14, 2013
A good treatment of Ignatius' methods of meditation and contemplation of Scripture. For anyone not familiar or comfortable with praying with Scripture, this book would make a good introduction. If i were to offer a course on praying with scripture, i would use this book as source material.
January 26, 2012
While I found it covered Ignatius' points on meditative and contemplative prayer very well and was a quick read, I would have like to have seen a bit more both in style and substance.
October 31, 2019
3.5 stars
August 5, 2014
Helpful
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews