Brother Alberto Varona shares his thoughts on contemplative prayer. “Three things are necessary for quiet, recollected contemplation…The first is the place, which is to be proper, fitting, detached, healthy, devotional, suited for reverence, and quiet…The second thing that effectively aids spiritual life is virtuous company, for it is written that it is not good for man to be alone, without companions to help him achieve his noble purpose. The third requisite for contemplation is the preparation and disposition of the will that is to be ready for the Lord’s grace like the wax for the seal.”
Francisco de Osuna was a 16th century Spanish Franciscan friar who is considered a major contributor to mystical theology and practice. In fact, this excerpt is from his Third Alphabet, a book that was immensely influential on the spiritual life and writing of St. Teresa of Avila. Here he shares with us a few requisites for recollected contemplation; by which he means the ability to draw one’s mind internally and focus it on God’s presence. **[CLICK HERE](https://cfcfranciscans.org/blog)** to finish reading the article on the Blog page of the website.
The first of these requisites is having an appropriate place. Now, we know that God is not restricted to certain places to make contact with us but –on the other hand– the skill of drawing oneself within and directing our heart & mind to God does require some support. So choosing a space that is quiet and detached –meaning not adjacent to frenetic energy and sound– would be helpful. If that space is also clean and decorated in a manner that inspires us to God, that would be even better. For example, trying to sit silently in prayer in a room that is in need of cleaning or is cluttered, with people walking and working outside your door, or within eye or ear-shot of a busy street will make the ability to recollect oneself more difficult. Having some sensory aids to a divine atmosphere such as a candle, an icon of Lord Jesus or some incense burning, may be very supportive. God does not require these, but they help our own mind during the cultivation of this skill.
The second of these requisites is good companionship. This does not necessarily mean that every time we sit in practice we must have a good prayer companion sitting with us –although this can certainly be supportive. He is suggesting that our contemplation is supported when we generally keep the company of those who are like-minded in the aspiration to achieve intimacy with God, dedicate time to its cultivation and live a life that is conducive to accomplishing this. For example, keeping the company of those who would rather stay up late watching television or partying when you have a prayer schedule, will not be supportive. Keeping the company of someone who thinks prayer is useless and that God is not real, will not be supportive. However, keeping the company of someone who thinks a patterned spiritual practice is meaningful, that prayer is crucial and helpful and who also values quiet moments of peaceful recollection will be most supportive.
The third of these requisites is having the disposition or readiness to be affected by God’s grace. He says, “like the wax for the seal”. What a beautiful image he uses. In this image, the wax is and remains what it is, wax. This is our soul, our own spiritual substance. But in being disposed to God’s grace, anticipating that God’s grace will come and being ready to perceive it and be shaped by it, is crucial. In this way we are like warmed wax, ready to be sealed by the Lord’s very being, presence & power. In this manner, we can make ourselves available to be shaped by God in the specific way God wants us to be shaped and marked. This is a way of talking about theosis or becoming more Christ-like. Allowing oneself to be shaped and imprinted by God does not turn us into God but rather conforms us to God so fully that the unity between us is able to reach its highest potential of similarity & intimacy. In this we can hear the spirituality of our own St. Francis who was so conformed to Jesus Christ that he identified near perfectly with him, even to the point of bearing his wounds. Br Alberto V
