Mental Prayer — First Ignatian Method
Ignatian — first method
This method is designed to a particular end: a clearer knowledge of self and of one's sins, a deeper penitence, and a seeking of grace to amend one's life, to the greater glory of God — all of which is asked for in the preparatory prayer.
First, consider what you are going to do: "let the mind repose a little, either sitting or walking, as shall seem best, considering meanwhile whither I am going and for what purpose."
Then a preparatory prayer, "as in this manner: to ask grace of God our Lord that I may know wherein I have failed regarding the Ten Commandments; and likewise to ask grace and aid to amend myself in future, begging for a perfect understanding of them, the better to keep them, to the greater glory and praise of His Divine Majesty." The same is asked for whatever subject is taken.
Subject
Each Commandment is to be considered separately for the space of three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys, with the object of discovering how it has been kept or broken, pardon being sought for each failure with an Our Father.
The time spent on each will vary, as "when a man finds he has no habit of sinning, it is not necessary to stay on it so long." The Commandments of the Church may be taken in the same way.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis,
sanctificétur nomen tuum.
Advéniat regnum tuum.
Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.
Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,
sed líbera nos a malo.
Amen.
Pater noster
Liber cantualis, 1983, p. 27 · Transcribed by Richard Chonak · GregoBase, CC0
"The matter here is of sins, which are to be avoided, whereas before it was of Commandments, which are to be kept. The better to know the faults committed on the seven Deadly Sins, let their contraries be considered; and so, the better to avoid them, let the person propose and take care with holy exercises to acquire and keep the seven Virtues contrary to them."
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis,
sanctificétur nomen tuum.
Advéniat regnum tuum.
Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.
Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,
sed líbera nos a malo.
Amen.
Pater noster
Liber cantualis, 1983, p. 27 · Transcribed by Richard Chonak · GregoBase, CC0
On memory, understanding and will the Saint gives no directions. What is evidently intended is the consideration of how the three great powers of the soul have been used or abused, and the endeavour to understand and appreciate their functions, that we may use them aright.
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis,
sanctificétur nomen tuum.
Advéniat regnum tuum.
Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.
Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,
sed líbera nos a malo.
Amen.
Pater noster
Liber cantualis, 1983, p. 27 · Transcribed by Richard Chonak · GregoBase, CC0
"Whoever wishes in the use of his senses to imitate Christ our Lord, let him commend himself in the preparatory prayer to His Divine Majesty; and after the consideration of each sense let him say one Our Father and one Hail Mary."
"And whoever wishes in the use of his senses to imitate our Lady, let him commend himself to her in the preparatory prayer, that she may obtain him grace of her Son and Lord to this purpose; and after the consideration of each sense let him say one Hail Mary."
Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis,
sanctificétur nomen tuum.
Advéniat regnum tuum.
Fiat volúntas tua, sicut in cælo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie,
et dimítte nobis débita nostra,
sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris.
Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem,
sed líbera nos a malo.
Amen.
Pater noster
Liber cantualis, 1983, p. 27 · Transcribed by Richard Chonak · GregoBase, CC0
Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum.
Benedícta tu in muliéribus,
et benedíctus fructus ventris tui, Iesus.
Sancta María, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatóribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostræ.
Amen.
Ave Maria Mode I
The Liber Usualis, 1961, p. 1861 · Transcribed by Andrew Hinkley · GregoBase, CC0
St. Ignatius centres attention on the positive side of the subject: "the Commandments which are to be kept," "the Virtues contrary to the seven Deadly Sins," the use of the senses by our Lord and His Mother. The meditation is to be upon what God wills and loves and on what Christ does, so that in His light we may see our sins and ever turn to Him for pardon and grace.
On concluding the reflection, accusation and begging for grace, make an end by a colloquy with God our Lord, according to the subject matter. A colloquy is a familiar, intimate, loving conversation, as of a child with its father, summing up in the freest acts of prayer what has gone before.