SPONSA REGIS - A Spiritual Review for Sister S - January 1962 Volume 33 Number 5

Sep 21, 2026

A spiritual review issue for Sister S focuses on meditation and mental prayer in religious life. It examines common obstacles such as routine practice, dryness, lack of fervor, inability to meditate, fear of wasting time, sleep during meditation, and persistent distractions. It argues that mental prayer is the most indispensable exercise for worship, self-facing, humility, and purification of senses and mind, shaping the heart through humility and the Holy Spirit’s healing. Subsequent guidance introduces helps to mental prayer.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages40

Reading Time1 h 41 min

AccessFree to download

SPONSA RECIS

Meditation

Value of Mental Prayer

Helps to Mental Prayer

SPONSA RECIS This day a star has ledthe Magi to the manger; this day at the Jordan Christ willed to be baptized in order to save us, alleluia. Antiphon,II VespersFeast of the Epiphany # SPONSA RECIS A SPIRITUAL REVIEW FOR SISTER S JANUARY 1962VOLUME 33NUMBER 5 Meditation 127JAMES CARMODY,S.J. Personal Destiny 136GERMAIN LESAGE,O.M.I. Christ,the Way 144THOMAS MERTON Poem 154.DAVID A.LOCHER Book Reviews 154 Published monthly by monks of Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota.Rev.Kilian McDonnell,O.S.B.,Editor;Rev.Ronald Roloff,O.S.B.,ManagingEditor;Rev.Raymond Roseliep,Poetry Editor.Advisory Board:Sister Rita-.mary Bradley,C.H.M.,Sister M.Rose Emmanuella Brennan,S.N.J.M.,Sister M.Emmanuel Collins,O.S.F.,Mother Mary Robert Falls,O.S.U.,Sister M.Jean Frances Fiffe,O.P.,Sister M.Jeremy Hall,O.S.B.,Sister M.JeromeKeeler,O.S.B.,Sister M.Teresa Francis McDade,B.V.M.,Sister Mary VirginiaMicka,C.S.J.,Sister M.Charles Borromeo Muckerhirn,C.S.C.,Sister MaryEmil Penet,I.H.M.,Sister Mary James Walsh,S.N.D.,Sister Annette Walters, C.S.J.,Mother Mary Florence Wolff,S.L.,Sister M.Francine Zeller,O.S.F. Address all correspondence except poetry to Sponsa Regis,Saint John's Abbey,Collegeville,Minnesota.(Checks payable to Sponsa Regis.)_Poetry shouldbe addressed to Rev.Raymond Roseliep,Loras College,Dubuque,Iowa.1 year $2.50;2 years $4.00;single copy 25 cents.Sterling area(exceptAustralia):1 year 18s;2 years 29s;single copy 1s 11d.Australia:1 year 23s;2 years 37s;single copy 2s 3d. Indexed in the Catholic Periodical Index.Printed by Sentinel PublishingCompany,413 East St.Germain Street,Saint Cloud,Minnesota.Second classpostage paid at Saint Cloud,Minnesota. # Meditation Many a Sister who has spent ten or fifteen years in religion findsherself still baffled by that daily part of her spiritual exercisescalled meditation.Each one’s problem with mental prayer may bedifferent but there are certain common difficulties.Meditationbecomes mere routine.One goes through the motions only becauseit is prescribed by rule or because it is enforced by superiors orby public opinion.(None of these motives is,of course,bad andat some times in the religious life of most of us they are the onlyeffective ones.But they are not the ideal.)Perpetual dryness andlack of fervor is experienced by many.Others find it impossibleto meditate and fear they are wasting their time.Some can neverstay awake during meditation.And then there are the meditationswhich are one long series of distractions. # VALUE OF MENTAL PRAYER To be on one's knees trying to pray is an action of the utmostvalue to the whole Church of God and to oneself.When we aretrying to pray we are doing the highest thing a man can do:worship God.Just to be there is to glorify God.This is somethingwhich we must not forget when tempted to discouragement withour daily meditation.We may not be praying with our minds(wemay think)but we have put the part of us we can control,ourbodies,in a posture of prayer.We may be there only throughcustom or external pressure,but we freely chose this way of lifewhich we foresaw would force us to spend some time each dayin prayer.If we now feel that if we were in other circumstanceswe would not even bother to try to pray,we still have the meritof having bound ourselves to a life which demands it of us. Secondly,there is no substitute for mental prayer.Spiritualreading is more elementary.Vocal prayer is a necessary part ofcommunity life.The rosary,stations and other devotions have aplace.But mental prayer is the one spiritual exercise which is indispensable for one striving for perfection.There is no sub-stitute for mental prayer because in no other spiritual exercise dowe so inevitably have to face God and face ourselves.Otherspiritual duties can be almost a pleasant relief and a distractionwhen compared to mental prayer.This is especially true for reli-gious who are actively engaged in works of mercy like nursingor teaching.Work has it

FAQs

What does the review say about common difficulties in meditation?

It notes that many experience meditation as mere routine, dryness and lack of fervor, fear of wasting time, inability to stay focused, sleep during meditation, or long sequences of distractions.

Why is mental prayer considered valuable according to the review?

It presents mental prayer as the highest form of worship, and as an exercise with no substitute because it forces a person to face God and face herself.

How does mental prayer cultivate humility and personal change?

The review explains that kneeling to pray often reveals uncharitable or trivial thoughts, recurring faults, and discouragement, which humiliates the person and pushes her toward reform through the pressure of prayer and the Holy Spirit’s healing.

Sep 21, 2026

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