Pray like a Franciscan: A Four-Fold Pattern of Prayer for an Enhanced Prayer Life
With the onset of fall, there is plenty of excitement here
at the Order of Sts. Francis and Clare as
we prepare for the Feast Day of St. Francis
of Assisi on October 4th. It will
undoubtedly include the Transitus,
typically held on the eve of his Feast Day.
The Transitus is an annual
Franciscan devotion remembering Francis’ passing from this life into the Reign
of God. In addition, on October 6th,
the Sunday following the Feast Day, along with one or more church communities
here in Charlotte, NC, the Order will
participate in Pet Blessing of the Animals.
While Francis of Assisi is well known for his love of all
creatures great and small, his influence on Franciscans around the world is his
vow to be humbly Christ-like in all things:
his discipline, his spirituality, and especially his prayer life.
For centuries Franciscans have embraced a four-fold pattern
of prayer that enables them to partner with Christ Jesus in the act of
prayerful meditation. While it is
doubtful that this pattern of prayer was developed by St. Francis himself or his
spiritual partner, St. Clare, it is clear that Clare’s contemplative mysticism laid
the framework for this prayer style.
Specifically the basis of the four-fold prayer can be found in Clare’s
second letter to Queen Agnes of Prague in 1235:
"Look upon Him who became contemptible for you, and follow Him, making yourself contemptible in the world for Him. Your spouse, though more beautiful than the children of men became, for your salvation, the lowest of men, despised, struck, scourged untold times throughout His whole body, and then died amid the sufferings of the Cross. O most noble Queen gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him."
While this Franciscan prayer style is similar to other forms
of monastic prayer (i.e. lectio divina),
it has unique qualities that make it practical for all people, thus expanding its use outside of a monastic
context, celebrating the incarnate Christ in the imitation of him. The four steps as Clare wrote in her letter
(above) are gaze, consider, contemplate and imitate.
To gaze: spend a moment not just reading scripture, but
taking in its essence and meaning, gazing upon it as you would a beautiful portrait.
It is no accident that the term “gaze” was used, most likely out of respect for
the poor and illiterate, giving them the opportunity to use in prayer the
scriptural themes as could be found in the icons and art work of the time.
To consider: Imagine yourself in the text; actually place
yourself in the presence of the incarnate Christ. This step is similar to meditation in other
monastic prayer styles, but again is offered in a way that the common person can
understand. It is using imagination to
put us in context of the scripture, expanding it in partnership with Christ.
To contemplate: Empty yourself of everything but the
spirit of God that is already present in you.
Ignore your own desires and focus on God’s desires – not God’s will, but
rather God’s wants. This
is the mystical discipline in which we seek to be present with God, who is
eternally present with us. Examine
the Incarnation, which is not solely about Jesus' birth but his whole human
historical experience. He wants you to share everything, even his existence.
To imitate: Live and be Christ-like in all that you say, in all that you
ponder, in all that you experience, in your relationship with others, and in
all that you do. This fourth step is
what sets the Franciscan prayer apart from all other monastic prayers. While imitation is important in other forms
of prayer, it is often seen as the result
of that prayer. Franciscans understand
that imitation is an integral part of prayer, the culmination of prayer. Imitation extends prayer with you throughout our
lives.
According
to Jamie Arpin-Ricci, in The Cost of
Community, offers this explanation. “For
many, prayer was meant to bring them into a state of spiritual ecstasy or peace
or love in God’s presence. However, the Franciscan tradition understood
that we encounter the presence of Christ most genuinely when we live His truth
with our own lives. After all, we are the Body of Christ, the incarnate
presence, united and empowered by the very present Spirit of God within us.”
The Feast Day of St. Francis is a wonderful time to begin to
incorporate this prayer style into your everyday prayer life. Try it for yourself and let us know how the Franciscan
four-fold prayer works for you. Also
feel free to ask any questions that you may have on the process. You’ll find the Order of Sts. Francis and
Clare on Facebook , www.facebook.com/theosfc or email
the Order via any of the friars at the United American Catholic Church website.
Pray like a Franciscan and… who knows? Maybe you’ll want to be one!
Rev. Friar Don Pratt, osfc
donprattli@gmail.com
This article is re-posted from The Missional Catholic, a communication of the United American Catholic Church, Autumn 2013. To subscribe to The Missional Catholic free of charge, visit:
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