Apostleship of Prayer
REPETITION
Repetition is an important way to notice the interior spiritual movements in one's heart and thus listen for the prompting of God's Spirit. It sometimes takes a repetition or two before we can deeply see what is going on in a prayer that is challenging us and, thereby, achieve the fruit of the contemplation. St. Ignatius would recommend its use both during the directed retreat and for one's daily prayer exercises.
WHAT REPETITION IS NOT
1. Repetition is not the repeating of the material for prayer as one repeats a study assignment for more thorough understanding.
2. Nor does it mean that one returns to the same matter for prayer in order to dig for something new or different.
3. Nor does it mean that one always returns to all the material of the last prayer period.WHAT REPETITION IS
Repetition means that I return to those points where I have experienced "greater consolation, desolation or greater spiritual appreciation". Hence I return to those points where I have experienced significant movements; not to the whole Scripture passage itself; not to a parallel Scripture text from another gospel. Rather I return to the remembered experience and, more importantly, to those points of the prayer exercise or parts in Scripture where the experience occurred.
Some Examples
1. I have prayed over the Scripture account of the Last Supper. In my review I notice that I have spent much time absorbed in the adoration of the sacrament; I also notice that I had a struggle reflecting upon the persons present at the Last Supper. In the following prayer period I return to both the real presence and to the various persons present.2. I am using my imagination in praying over the Baptism at the Jordan. In my review after the period of prayer I notice that I was with Jesus but his back was to me and I had a feeling of sadness. So in the next period of prayer I return to the place where Jesus was turned away from me and the experience of sadness occurred.
3. I am praying over the hidden life of Jesus. In the review I notice that I could not get settled; that I was filled with distractions and anxiousness. So in the next period of prayer I return to the same material.
4. I am praying over my cooperation with evil, my sinfulness, and I am requesting from God a deeper awareness of those hidden disordered tendencies that affect the decisions I make. This is now being given to me. In my review I have a sense that the Spirit desires to show me more. So I keep on returning to the same material.
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