Getting my mind around exactly what is meant by the term contemplative prayer  has challenged me for some time. Lately I came across a nice, vivid metaphor from Fr. James Borst, a priest who served in India, and who wrote a guide for contemplative prayer a few years ago:

Mature Christians are meant to reach the stage of contemplative prayer. We can compare the three stages of prayer to levels of schooling. We begin in the primary grades with reading and writing – vocal prayer. The middle grades of prayer consist of meditation, where reflection on life and revelation is the main subject, although vocal prayer is not neglected. The high school of prayer is the beginning of contemplative prayer such as is recommended here. We do not forget or neglect what we have learned at the lower levels, but the growing point of our prayer life is an awakening to God’s presence and an opening to his Spirit.

In comparing contemplative prayer to vocal prayer, we could say that in contemplative prayer we seek an awareness that what is contained in the words we say in vocal prayer is really and truly present to us. In using the words, “Our Father who art in heaven,” we go beyond the words to an awareness of God’s presence deep within us, and we dwell in that presence. The actual words used are like the ringing of a bell that awakens us from sleep to consciousness of God’s presence within.

If we compare contemplative prayer to meditative prayer, we could say that instead of mulling over the truth reflectively, we come to a halt and gaze at it, awakening to God’s presence within. Meditation could be compared to the activity that goes into making and painting a picture. Contemplative prayer is the quiet looking at the completed picture, seeing it as a whole, becoming aware of the reality of the artist’s vision it portrays.