Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 503 – Part II.

YOUCAT Question n. 503 - Part II. What is interior or “contemplative” prayer?

(Youcat answer repeated) Contemplative prayer is love, silence, listening, and being in the presence of God.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2711) Entering into contemplative prayer is like entering into the Eucharistic liturgy: we "gather up:" the heart, recollect our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit, abide in the dwelling place of the Lord which we are, awaken our faith in order to enter into the presence of him who awaits us. We let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord who loves us, so as to hand ourselves over to him as an offering to be purified and transformed.

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) For interior prayer one needs time, resolve, and above all a pure heart. It is the humble, poor devotion of a creature that drops all masks, believes in love, and seeks God from the heart. Interior prayer is often called the prayer of the heart and contemplation.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2712) Contemplative prayer is the prayer of the child of God, of the forgiven sinner who agrees to welcome the love by which he is loved and who wants to respond to it by loving even more (Cf. Lk 7:36-50; 19:1-10).  But he knows that the love he is returning is poured out by the Spirit in his heart, for everything is grace from God. Contemplative prayer is the poor and humble surrender to the loving will of the Father in ever deeper union with his beloved Son. 

(This question:  What is interior or “contemplative” prayer? is continued)