Praying the Bible is not the same as reading one VID 4

Tandem Blog Article for Vid 4     https://youtu.be/XA0s-joGrzY

In the artistic heritage of the Roman Catholic Church, one of the most inspiring artistic works depicts Mary at the Annunciation praying over an open Bible. This tradition expresses that only after having completely given herself over to God’s Word, literally having “digested” it, is she capable of offering her womb to be blessed among women and receive God’s Everlasting Word and bring Jesus into the world.

Consider this example of how to pray the Sacred Scriptures, perhaps even with Mary’s intensity.  It concentrates on the Psalms, the prayer book of every pious Jew, and therefore, Jesus’ prayer book. He even quoted from memory during His execution hanging on the cross.

This method may be practiced alone or in a group.  I share it with you because after sixty-some years, I have found it to be the most vibrant, real, and fruitful way to pray the Scriptures, integrate them into my life, and make them come alive.  I also understand it may not work for everyone, however, it’s worth a try.

Meditating on the Psalms in this manner may be done personally, that is alone with a Bible, paper, and pen/pencil.  If gathering as a group, each person needs their own copy of the Bible, paper, and writing instrument.  A leader chooses one Psalm (or someone may suggest one for the whole group).  Each person closes their eyes and slowly, comfortably (but much more slowly than usual), breathes inward through their nostrils. Holding your breath for as long as it takes to say quietly, without rushing: “In the name of the Father” and slowly breathe out your mouth. Then, taking another breath through the nose, and holding it for as long as needed, silently saying “and of the Son” then slowly breath out through your mouth.  Feel the warm air exiting your body.  Repeat the same: nose breathing-in and hold for “and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Then, calmly without hurry, breathe the last of the three breaths out of your mouth.

The purpose of the above method is not just to calm ourselves down, but also to consciously enter the Household of Heaven. The Blessed Trinity, God’s living House is made of three persons, not brick, or wood, or particle board, but of the divine persons of our Baptism: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Remember, it was at Baptism we first entered the eternal household of God as the priest poured blessed water over us to the words of Jesus: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Every prayer said in common begins by repeating His words in gratitude for our own Baptism.  If you like, you may also make the sign of the Cross as you pray the Holy Name of each Person of the Blessed Trinity.

Begin slowly.  It is very important to slow down throughout this prayer.  Do this not as your read a morning news feed nor a page from the stock exchange.  Slowly read each verse of the selected Psalm to yourself.  Keep reading easily, calmly verse-after-verse until one particular phrase strikes you differently than all the others. Stay with that verse and read no further.  It may be a strong feeling or just a “I never thought of that,” or “Wow, does that fit?” or “I never heard that before!”

While looking at it, repeat it for at least 5-10 minutes.  Repeat it slowly, almost as a litany.  When you’re done, write it down. Spend a few minutes considering the emotion which stirred up and made you stop (For a list of emotions see end of article).  Perhaps something surfaced as you repeated the phrase silently in prayerful meditation.  Don’t worry or judge yourself that you’re supposed to have a correct, or only positive response, or even if no particular emotion surfaced after completing the Psalm. In that case, say a prayer of thanksgiving or “Glory be to the Father…” and consider trying again in a day-or-two.

In a group, members may choose to share their phrase and/or emotion. You don’t need to feel compelled to, particularly if it is very personal.  However, sharing even strong emotions, not just positive feelings, supports others.  You may find how many other people have felt in a similar way or had analogous reactions. I have found this method of group Scripture prayer to be very powerful. Over time, family members (or a group) begin to ground their trust in each other.

Once when visiting a L’Arch Center in Canada (a center for special-ed persons founded in France by Jean Vanier), the leader who guided the evening meditation affirmed, “Our breath is the Holy Spirit in us.  After all, the original word for spirit is breath. God breathed the divine breath into us at Baptism, similarly, breathing life into Adam’s nostrils.”  I was joyfully startled to the point that I shall never forget what she said. The encounter led me to experience meditative breathing as prayer, especially when mindfully conscious of the Holy Spirit. Wow, was I in-spir-ed! This is yet another way I have experienced the energy of this method.

Secondly, I also believe and have passed on to other practitioners, that applying this form of Bible praying, one may discover something God has to say to us, today.  That is why I write it down and even return to this phrase, repeating it silently when standing in line, or at a stop light, or just when I need a breather. Remember God’s message is for you, personally, not for your family, nor your entire parish, nor the world.  It is just for your personal consideration. It’s has astonished me and been a strength to move and center my heart throughout the day. It is a new form of prayer.

Lastly, throughout my lifetime in seminary formation, as a seminary formator, and an academic, I have experienced that ecclesiastical professionals, myself included, can be too much in our heads.  The brain is only one part of being human and other than conceptualizing and searching for meaning, I do a lot of, perhaps excessive, ruminating.  Only in the last ten years or so, have I discovered my other human component, my heart. Engaging the heart, or the seat of emotions in life, has been liberating. To put it shortly, according to sages of the ages, how far away is heaven?  Centuries of practice confirms, 18”.  Yes, a mere eighteen inches —the distance from your heart to your brain.

Western (Roman Catholic) spirituality defines spirituality as the mind rising upward toward God.  While that is true, after years of striving, I prefer the Eastern Byzantine method: the descent of the mind into the heart.  That happens to me regularly now, through breathing prayer, and yes, it’s often with the Psalms.

I have found this method, both in groups and personally, as a way to make Sacred Scriptures come alive. This is what I called an encounter with Christ. Praying the Scriptures, as differentiated from reading or studying them, has led me also to personally encounter the Living Word of God, the Risen Lord.  It is not the only way and it must be tied to, bound to, and flowing from, the-Breaking-of-the-Bread at the Lord’s Supper on the Lord’s Day.  Later, more on how praying the 4 Scriptural Mysteries of Mama Mary’s Beaded Bouquet of Roses may change for the better.
Here is a list of emotions and feelings which may be of assistance in praying the Psalms.  

Emotion	Possible Feeling
Happy	Content, accepted, peaceful, optimistic
Surprised	Confused, amazed, excited
Bad	Busy, stressed, tired
Fearful	Anxious, insecure, weak, rejected, threatened
Angry	Bitter, mad, aggressive, frustrated
Disgusted	Disappointed, awful, confused, judgmental
Sad	Lonely, vulnerable, despairing, guilty, depressed, hurt

Next Saturday: Action Prayers: A Praying Candle

All video content of St Casimir’s Series on the Domestic Church and Tandem Blog Articles © CzMKrysa, Buffalo, NY April-May 2020