A Formula for Prayer
This week is Catholic Schools Week, and it’s made me reflect on those lessons that stick with you from your school days.
I think of the scientific method—a practical tool we probably don’t realize we use every day. We make hypotheses, test them, adjust. It’s become second nature.
What if prayer could be like that?
I recently came across a cheat sheet I’d made years ago based on the writings of St. Teresa of Ávila. Her approach to mental prayer gave me something I didn’t know I needed: a formula.
When it comes to prayer, we often think it has to be either very structured (like praying the rosary) or extremely loose (just sitting in silence, letting our minds wander). St. Teresa offers something in between—a structure for mental prayer that’s both flexible and focused.
Here are the steps:
1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Recognize that He dwells in you. You’re not trying to reach a distant God—He’s already here.
2. Turn to spiritual reading. Open Scripture or a devotional text. This gives your prayer something to work with, something concrete to engage with.
3. Observe. Your posture here is one of attention. Read slowly, looking for some nugget of wisdom or insight to sit with. Don’t rush to the next verse. Find something that catches you.
4. Reflect. Sit with what you found. Look at it from different angles, the way you’d examine an unusual rock you found on a path. Use your reason. Probe deeper. What does this mean? Why does it matter?
5. Speak to the Lord. Now you shift. Stop reasoning with yourself and start talking to Him. Take that insight and apply it to your own life. Tell Him what you’re thinking, what you’re struggling with, what you see. This is conversation, not analysis.
6. Listen. This is probably the hardest part. The Lord doesn’t always speak in audible words, but He sends little lights—small pieces of wisdom, gentle insights. Rest with them. Don’t rush past them looking for something more dramatic.
So the next time you go to pray, take this with you. Place yourself in His presence, read something, observe, reflect, speak, and listen.
See what happens.
Reflections by:
Mark Quaranta
Mark Quaranta’s daily reflections, formerly known as Summons, are now The Victor’s Crown. Subscribe for free at TheVictorsCrown.com. Paid subscriptions support the work and unlock premium content. Explore Mark’s prayer journals at PrayOnPaper.com.