Step 1: Introduction to Acquired Recollection
Overview: The Significance of Acquired Recollection in Catholic Tradition
Acquired Recollection is a transformative form of prayer within the Catholic tradition that necessitates a deliberate, conscious effort to collect and direct one’s thoughts, emotions, and desires towards God. This guide aims to unfold the depth and richness of Acquired Recollection, highlighting its place in the spiritual life of believers, as underscored by insights from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). Through Acquired Recollection, practitioners are invited into a deeper, more intimate communion with God, fostering a profound inner silence and attentiveness to the Divine Presence.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2705 - 2708, 2715
The Catechism of the Catholic Church provides a comprehensive framework for understanding Acquired Recollection and its role in the prayer life of a Christian. Specifically, paragraphs CCC 2705 to 2708 and 2715 delve into the essence and practice of meditation, of which Acquired Recollection is a crucial component. These sections outline the process of meditative prayer as an active quest to understand God's word, to dwell upon it, and to apply it to one's life. This form of prayer is not merely a mental exercise but an engaged effort of the heart to encounter God.
CCC 2705 introduces meditation as a form of prayer that seeks to understand God’s love, His ways, and His will for us. It involves a deliberate engagement of the mind and heart in seeking a deeper relationship with God.
CCC 2706-2708 describe the dynamics of meditation, emphasizing the importance of focusing one's faculties on contemplation of the Lord. This includes reflections on Christ's life, mysteries of the faith, Scripture, or the beauty of God’s creation as pathways to encountering God’s presence. The Catechism notes that meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire to deepen our faith, convert our heart, and fortify our will to follow Christ.
CCC 2715 highlights that contemplation is a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus. This paragraph elucidates that meditative prayer, like Acquired Recollection, matures into a closer, contemplative communion with God. It is marked by simplicity, where the collectedness of one's faculties within this form of prayer opens the heart to the silent and loving awareness of God’s presence.
Acquired Recollection, as understood through these catechism references, invites the faithful into a prayerful gathering of their inner selves — thoughts, emotions, and desires — to foster a space where God's voice can be heard and His presence felt. This meditative effort aids in cultivating a spiritual environment within oneself that is receptive to the transforming grace of God. By embracing the practice of Acquired Recollection, believers embark on a journey towards deeper spiritual insight and union with God, guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church and the nourishing silence that characterizes intimate dialogue with the Divine.
Step 2: Establish a Prayerful Environment
Creating a Sacred Space for Prayer
In the journey of Acquired Recollection, establishing a conducive environment for prayer is paramount. A sacred space, whether it's a small corner of a room or a designated area in your home, serves as a physical testament to your commitment to prayer and spiritual growth. This space should be quiet and comfortable, a sanctuary away from the busyness and distractions of daily life. Personalize this area with religious symbols that resonate with your faith—icons, candles, a crucifix, or even a small vase of flowers can enhance the atmosphere, inviting a sense of peace and sacredness. These elements act not just as decorations but as visual cues to your mind and heart that this space is set apart for encountering God.
Beginning with the Sign of the Cross
Initiating your prayer time with the Sign of the Cross is a powerful way to invoke the Holy Trinity's presence and to remind yourself of God's closeness and your belonging to Him. This simple act is a profound profession of faith, enveloping your prayer time in the grace and protection of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It sets the tone for your prayer session, marking it as a time of sacred communion with God.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2728
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2728, addresses the challenges believers often face in prayer, including distractions, feelings of dryness, or the impression that prayer is fruitless. It teaches that prayer requires trustful surrender to the will of God, even when faced with difficulties in concentrating or the sense that one's prayer is not being heard. By creating a sacred space and beginning with the Sign of the Cross, you anchor your prayer time in the physical and spiritual reality of God's eternal presence and love. This preparation and initial act of faith help to combat the discouragements outlined in CCC 2728, reminding us that prayer is an ongoing journey of faith, hope, and love.
In the context of Acquired Recollection, these practices—establishing a sacred space and beginning with the Sign of the Cross—are foundational. They not only enhance the quality of your prayer time but also foster a deeper awareness of God's abiding presence. As you enter into prayer, let these actions remind you that you are stepping into a sacred encounter with the Divine, supported by the traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church.
Step 3: Set an Intention for Your Acquired Recollection
Clarifying Your Purpose in Prayer
The journey of Acquired Recollection begins with a moment of introspection to set a clear intention for your prayer. This intentionality is crucial as it directs your heart and mind towards a specific purpose, whether it be seeking a deeper communion with God, longing for inner peace, or contemplating a particular facet of your faith. Clarifying your purpose not only helps in focusing your prayer but also aligns your spiritual efforts with the desires of your heart, making your time of prayer more meaningful and directed.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2710
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2710, underlines the importance of entering into prayer with a heart that is open and ready for God's action. It emphasizes that prayer is not so much about achieving a certain mental state or feeling but about turning our hearts towards God. By setting a clear intention, we open ourselves to the work of the Spirit within us, allowing our prayer to be guided by God's will rather than our own preconceived desires or outcomes.
Setting an intention as described in CCC 2710 involves surrendering our own agendas and allowing God to lead our prayer, making our intention not a rigid goal but a starting point for divine interaction. This approach to prayer acknowledges that while we may seek specific guidance or comfort, the ultimate purpose of prayer is to deepen our relationship with God, allowing His will to unfold in our lives.
As you begin your practice of Acquired Recollection, take a moment to clarify your purpose. Reflect on what draws you to prayer at this time. Is it a need for guidance, a desire to grow in a virtue, or a yearning to know God more intimately? Whatever your intention, offer it to God as the opening of your heart, ready to receive whatever He desires to give. This act of setting an intention not only focuses your prayer but also deepens your trust in God's loving response, whatever form it may take.
Step 4: Choose a Focal Point for Your Recollection
Selecting a Theme or Image for Recollection
In the practice of Acquired Recollection, choosing a theme, scriptural passage, or spiritual image as your focal point enriches the depth and focus of your prayer. This selected element serves as a gateway into the divine mystery, enabling you to contemplate a specific virtue, attribute of God, or an event from the life of Jesus. This focused approach not only aids in deepening your understanding and relationship with God but also allows for a more intimate encounter with Him, as you explore the depths of the chosen theme or image in the silence of your heart.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2707, 2708
The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the importance of focusing our mind and heart on God during prayer. In paragraphs 2707 and 2708, it discusses the role of meditation as an essential practice in the Christian life, inviting us to engage deeply with God’s Word or the mysteries of Christ’s life. These sections emphasize that meditation involves thought, imagination, emotion, and desire—engaging the whole person in seeking to understand, love, and follow Christ.
CCC 2707 encourages the use of scripture, the rosary, or other forms of meditation that help to fix our thoughts on God, suggesting that by focusing on a specific theme or image, we can enter more deeply into the presence of God. This focused meditation is not an end in itself but a means to an end—leading to the sweetness of a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ.
CCC 2708 further elaborates on the transition from meditation to contemplation, indicating that a deeply focused engagement with a theme or image can naturally lead into a simpler, more profound sense of God's presence. It is in this contemplative prayer that the heart is most open to experiencing the transformative grace of God.
When selecting your theme or image for recollection, consider what aspect of God's revelation currently speaks to your heart or challenges you to grow. Whether it's a scripture passage that has recently moved you, a virtue you feel called to cultivate, or a moment in the life of Christ that you wish to explore more deeply, let this focal point guide you into a more profound and personal encounter with God. As you meditate on this theme or image, allow it to illuminate your understanding, kindle your love for God, and inspire your will to align more closely with His.
Step 5: Reflect on Your Chosen Theme
Contemplating the Theme
Once you have selected a theme or image for your session of Acquired Recollection, the next step is to immerse yourself in contemplation. This involves allowing your mind to fully engage with the chosen theme, exploring its layers of meaning and significance within the context of your faith. Begin by placing yourself in a state of openness, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your reflection and deepen your understanding.
As you contemplate, pay attention to the feelings, thoughts, and insights that arise. This is not a time for analysis but for being with God through the lens of the theme or image you have chosen. Allow yourself to be drawn into the mystery of God's presence, where the spiritual truths embedded in your theme can touch your heart and transform your understanding.
Using Scripture
If your chosen focal point is a scriptural passage, approach it with reverence and attentiveness. Read the passage slowly, perhaps multiple times, allowing its words and phrases to resonate within you. Scripture is alive and active, capable of speaking directly to your heart and situation (Hebrews 4:12). As you meditate on the scripture, consider how it speaks to your current life situation, challenges, or aspirations. Reflect on how the passage reveals God's character, promises, and invitations to you personally.
In this meditative reading, be open to the Holy Spirit illuminating the scripture in a way that you have never seen before. This could be an invitation to change, an assurance of God's love, or a new insight into the depth of Christ's sacrifice and its implications for your life.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2709
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2709, defines contemplation as "a gaze of faith, fixed on Jesus." This gaze involves more than seeing with physical eyes; it's an act of loving attention, a heart fully turned towards God in silent love. Contemplation, as described in CCC 2709, is the fruit of meditative practices such as the contemplation of themes or scripture. It emphasizes that contemplation is not something that can be taken or acquired by effort alone but is a gift of grace from God.
As you contemplate your theme or scripture, remember that the ultimate goal is not to achieve a particular insight or feeling but to rest in God's presence. This silent and loving attention to God nurtures a deeper relationship with Him, where knowledge of God is transformed into love for God. Allow your contemplation to lead you naturally into a place of deeper communion, where the heart speaks to God beyond words, and the spirit rests in His loving embrace.
Step 6: Engage in Gradual Interior Silence
Quieting Your Thoughts
In the practice of Acquired Recollection, achieving interior silence is a crucial step. This silence is not merely the absence of external noise but a deep quieting of the soul that allows for an encounter with God's presence. Begin by consciously letting go of the external distractions that clamor for your attention. This could involve turning off electronic devices, finding a quiet time and place for prayer, or simply setting aside your daily concerns for the duration of your prayer time.
Once the external distractions are minimized, the next challenge is to calm the flurry of thoughts that often occupy our minds. Gently direct your attention away from the thoughts of the day, worries about the future, or reflections on the past, and turn your focus towards God. This is not about forcefully suppressing thoughts but rather gently setting them aside, acknowledging their presence but choosing instead to concentrate on your desire for God.
Using Breathing Techniques
Employing breathing techniques can significantly aid in calming your thoughts and focusing your attention. Begin by taking slow, deliberate breaths. Inhale deeply, hold for a moment, and then exhale slowly. As you breathe, envision drawing in God’s peace and exhaling the chaos and noise of your thoughts. With each breath, allow yourself to feel more centered and more present to God who is always with you.
This rhythmic breathing can serve as a physical anchor, bringing your mind back to the present moment whenever it starts to wander. It’s a tangible reminder of the breath of life that God has given you and can help foster a sense of connection to Him.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2720
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2720, teaches that prayer is both a gift from God and a response from us, requiring effort on our part to engage in the discipline of prayer. It acknowledges the challenge of concentration in prayer, emphasizing the need for vigilance, fidelity, and perseverance. The practice of quieting your thoughts and employing breathing techniques aligns with this understanding, as it is part of the effort we make to enter into prayer more deeply.
CCC 2720 reminds us that while the effort to focus and enter into silence is ours, the grace of prayer is a gift. This perspective encourages us not to become discouraged by distractions or the effort it takes to quiet the mind but to see them as part of the journey of prayer. In the effort to calm our thoughts and focus on God’s presence, we open ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit, who guides us into deeper communion with God.
Step 7: Speak to God Silently or Aloud
Expressing Your Thoughts
Once you have entered into a space of interior silence through the practice of Acquired Recollection, the next step is to open your heart in conversation with God. This dialogue is not about formalities or recited prayers but about sharing your innermost thoughts, feelings, and desires directly with God. Whether you choose to engage in this conversation silently within the heart or whisper your words softly, what matters most is the sincerity and openness of your expression.
Be Genuine
Authenticity is key in your communication with God. Remember, God knows you completely and loves you unconditionally. There is no need to hide or disguise your true feelings in His presence. If you are struggling, share your struggles. If you are grateful, express your gratitude. If you are seeking guidance, ask for direction. God desires a personal and genuine relationship with you, one where you can freely express all that you are and all that you feel.
This openness not only deepens your relationship with God but also facilitates a more profound experience of His love and grace in your life. By being genuine in your conversation with God, you allow Him to work more effectively within you, transforming your heart and mind according to His will.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2700, 2711
The Catechism of the Catholic Church underscores the importance of this heartfelt communication in prayer. In paragraph 2700, it states that "prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit." This highlights the relational aspect of prayer, emphasizing that it is about entering into a dialogue with a God who loves us and wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives.
Furthermore, CCC 2711 points out that "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."
These catechism references beautifully articulate the essence of expressing your thoughts in prayer. It’s about gathering your whole being, removing any facades, and turning your heart towards God with complete trust and openness. In doing so, you not only abide in God’s loving presence but also participate in the transformative journey of becoming more like Christ.
Step 8: Embrace Interior Stillness
Experiencing Stillness
In the journey of Acquired Recollection, after expressing your thoughts and desires to God, it's essential to transition into a phase of interior stillness. This stage is not about passive inactivity but about an active and attentive listening to God's presence within you. Allow yourself to rest in the silence that follows your conversation with God, letting go of the compulsion to fill the space with words. This silence is a sacred space where the language of the heart speaks louder than words, and where you can be deeply receptive to the subtle movements of the Holy Spirit.
Embracing stillness requires trust—a trust that God is at work within you, even if you do not feel or hear anything specific. It's in these moments of quiet that you can become more attuned to God's voice and presence, often felt rather than heard, guiding and comforting you in the depths of your being.
Using Short Prayers
To aid in maintaining this interior stillness and focus, short prayers or phrases can be incredibly helpful. Simple, heartfelt utterances like "Jesus, I trust in you" or "Come, Holy Spirit" can serve as anchors for your mind and spirit, drawing you back when your attention begins to wander. These phrases are not just tools for concentration but are expressions of faith and desire for God's guidance and presence.
These short prayers, repeated with faith and devotion, can deepen your sense of God's immediate presence and help to maintain an atmosphere of recollection and attentiveness to the divine. They are like breaths of spiritual air, keeping the flame of your faith alive and burning brightly within the sanctuary of your heart.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2712
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2712, beautifully captures the essence of this phase of prayer: "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." It goes on to describe contemplative prayer as a covenant heart-to-heart with God, where prayer becomes not just a method or technique but a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, a silent love.
This contemplative stillness, as described in CCC 2712, is an invitation to deepen your relationship with God beyond words, entering into a state of loving awareness of His perpetual presence. It's in this loving silence that the deepest communion with God takes place, where the soul can experience the transformative and healing love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In this sacred silence, let your heart remain open and receptive, trusting in the profound work that God is doing within you, often beyond what words can convey or the mind can comprehend.
Step 9: Utilize Repetition and Consistency
Integrating Repetition of Short Prayers
A vital component of deepening your Acquired Recollection practice involves the repetition of short prayers or phrases. This technique is not about mindless repetition but serves as a spiritual rhythm that can anchor your focus and facilitate a deeper connection with God. By repeatedly returning to simple, meaningful phrases such as "Lord, have mercy," "Abba, Father," or "Your will be done," you create a continuous stream of prayerful intention that permeates your heart and mind. This repetition helps to keep distractions at bay and centers your attention on the presence of God, allowing the chosen theme or image of your recollection to seep more deeply into your consciousness.
Consistency in Practice
The journey of Acquired Recollection is enriched and sustained by consistency. Establishing a regular practice of this contemplative prayer form is crucial for nurturing your spiritual life and deepening your relationship with God. Just as physical exercise requires regularity to strengthen the body, so too does the soul benefit from the consistent practice of prayer to grow in faith and intimacy with God. Aim to set aside a dedicated time each day for Acquired Recollection, treating it as an essential appointment with God that you approach with reverence and expectation.
Consistency in prayer fosters a rhythm of grace in your life, where the presence of God becomes more deeply felt and acknowledged. Over time, this disciplined approach to prayer can transform your spiritual landscape, making you more attuned to the subtle movements of the Holy Spirit and more responsive to God's guidance and love in your daily life.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2708, 2711
The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights the importance of meditation and contemplation in the Christian prayer life, with paragraphs 2708 and 2711 offering insights that resonate with the practice of Acquired Recollection. CCC 2708 encourages the faithful to engage in meditation as a quest to understand our faith more deeply, using methods like the repetition of words or phrases to focus our minds and hearts on God. This meditative effort leads to the simplicity and silence of contemplation, where we encounter God's presence in a profound and transformative way.
CCC 2711 further elaborates on the contemplative aspect of prayer, describing it as a process of collecting our whole being under the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In this state of prayer, we are called to let our masks fall and turn our hearts back to the Lord with love and trust. This turning of the heart is nurtured through the regular and repetitive invocation of God's name or attributes, emphasizing the role of consistency and repetition in cultivating a heart that is continually oriented towards God.
Through the integration of short prayers and consistent practice, Acquired Recollection becomes not just a method of prayer but a way of life, inviting us into a deeper, more loving relationship with God, where every moment is an opportunity to encounter His grace.
Step 10: Conclude with a Prayer of Thanksgiving
Expressing Gratitude
As you conclude your practice of Acquired Recollection, it is essential to end with a heart of gratitude. Offering a prayer of thanksgiving is a profound way to acknowledge God's presence and the grace you've received during your time of prayer. Thank God for the moments of connection, however fleeting they may have seemed, for any insights gained, and most importantly, for the very opportunity to draw closer to Him. This act of gratitude not only honors God but also cultivates a heart that recognizes and appreciates His constant work in your life.
Reflecting on Your Experience
After concluding your prayer with gratitude, take a moment to reflect on your experience of Acquired Recollection. Consider how this time of focused prayer and contemplation has influenced your spiritual disposition and understanding. Reflection helps to integrate the fruits of your prayer into your daily life, allowing the insights or peace you've gained to shape your actions, decisions, and perspective. It's also a time to acknowledge any challenges you faced during your recollection and to consider how you might approach them differently in the future.
Reflection can be done in silence, or you might find it helpful to journal about your experiences. Writing down your thoughts can offer further clarity and serve as a spiritual record of your journey with God.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2713
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2713, underscores the importance of gratitude and reflection in prayer, stating that contemplative prayer is a covenant relationship established by God within our hearts. CCC 2713 reminds us that contemplative prayer is a communion in which the Holy Trinity conforms man, the image of God, to His likeness. This transformative process is nurtured through our attentive and grateful acknowledgment of God's presence and action in our lives.
Expressing gratitude and reflecting on your prayer experience aligns with the Church's teaching that prayer is not only a means of asking for God's assistance but also an opportunity to deepen our relationship with Him through thankful acknowledgment of His constant gifts. In this way, Acquired Recollection not only brings us into a closer communion with God during the prayer itself but also enriches our spiritual life by fostering a disposition of gratitude and reflective awareness of God's ongoing work within us.
Step 11: Seek Spiritual Guidance
Seeking Spiritual Direction
As you deepen your practice of Acquired Recollection and navigate the complexities of your spiritual journey, seeking guidance from a spiritual director or mentor can be incredibly beneficial. A spiritual director, often someone with experience and training in guiding others through their spiritual growth, can offer valuable insights into your prayer life, suggest themes or scripture passages that might resonate with your current spiritual state, and provide support and encouragement as you seek to draw closer to God.
This relationship is not about instructing or prescribing, but rather about accompanying and discerning alongside you. A spiritual director listens with an attuned ear to both your experiences and the movements of the Spirit within them, helping you to recognize God’s presence and action in your life. They can assist you in understanding and navigating the various stages of spiritual growth, challenges in prayer, and moments of consolation and desolation.
Reflecting with Your Spiritual Director
In your meetings with a spiritual director, you'll have the opportunity to reflect on your experiences of Acquired Recollection, sharing insights gained, questions that have arisen, and any difficulties you've encountered. This reflective process can clarify your understanding and inspire new paths of prayer and action.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2718
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2718, speaks to the essence of contemplative prayer as the experience of the "coinheritance of Christ," being "in Him" in the Holy Spirit. Contemplative prayer is described as a communion of love, bearing "Life" for the multitude, to the extent that it consents to abide in the night of faith. The silent love of prayer becomes an unceasing offering of ourselves alongside Christ and an intercession that is "leaven in the world."
A spiritual director can help you to navigate this "night of faith," assisting you in understanding how your personal experiences of prayer and recollection fit into the broader context of your relationship with God and your call to be leaven in the world. They can guide you in consenting more fully to this communion of love, encouraging you to live out the fruits of your prayer in your daily life.
Engaging in spiritual direction enriches your journey of Acquired Recollection by providing a space for discernment, encouragement, and deeper exploration of the contemplative path. It affirms that while the journey is deeply personal, it is also one we are not meant to walk alone.
Conclusion: Embrace the Depth of Acquired Recollection
Open-Ended Exploration in Acquired Recollection
Acquired Recollection is not a static or one-dimensional practice; it is a dynamic and open-ended exploration that invites you into a deeper relationship with God. Recognize that each session of prayer, each moment of silence, and every effort to focus your mind and heart contributes significantly to your spiritual growth and deepens your communion with the Divine. This journey is marked by a series of unique experiences, insights, and transformations that unfold over time, reflecting the personal and intimate nature of your relationship with God.
Approach each session of Acquired Recollection with an openness to whatever experiences it may bring. Some days you might find yourself engulfed in profound peace or clarity, while on others, you may struggle to find focus or feel as though you are not making any progress. These variations are a normal part of the spiritual journey, reminding us that growth often occurs in ways we cannot see or understand in the moment.
Embracing the Journey
Embrace the journey of Acquired Recollection as a path not just toward achieving certain spiritual milestones but as a process of gradually becoming more attuned to God's presence in all aspects of your life. This process is about learning to recognize and respond to God's gentle guidance, becoming more open to His transformative love, and deepening your trust in His providential care.
Catechism Reference: CCC 2719
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, in paragraph 2719, teaches us that contemplative prayer is also the prayer of Abraham and David. Reflecting on the New Covenant, which is realized in Christ, the catechism points to Mary's fiat—"Let it be done to me according to your word"—as the perfect example of this surrender to loving faith. This "let it be" is indicative of the disposition we are called to emulate in our own practice of Acquired Recollection. It is an open-ended affirmation of God's will, a readiness to be led by the Holy Spirit, and a commitment to listening and responding to God's voice.
CCC 2719 emphasizes that contemplative prayer is an act of faith, hope, and love, an experience of being drawn into God's presence. It invites us to enter into the silence of God, allowing His Word to become the active center of our lives. This perspective encourages us to see Acquired Recollection not as a task to be completed but as an ongoing, open-ended dialogue with God, where we are continually shaped and reshaped by His love and will.
In embracing this dynamic exploration, we open ourselves to the limitless possibilities of growth and transformation that God offers, allowing our prayer life to be a living, breathing, evolving expression of our journey with Him.
What is the difference between affective prayer and acquired recollection?
The journey of Christian contemplation encompasses various stages and forms of prayer, each with its unique characteristics and purpose in the soul's progression toward deeper union with God. Two such forms of prayer are Affective Prayer and Acquired Recollection, which, while related in their aim to draw the soul closer to God, differ in their focus and method.
Affective Prayer
Affective Prayer is a form of mental or contemplative prayer characterized by the heart's affections being directed towards God. It goes beyond intellectual meditation or consideration of divine truths to involve the emotions and desires deeply. In Affective Prayer, the individual actively engages their capacity for love, desire, gratitude, contrition, and other affections in response to God's presence and action in their life. This form of prayer is personal and relational, focusing on establishing a heart-to-heart connection with God. It often arises out of meditation on scriptural passages, the life of Christ, or the attributes of God, leading to an intimate and loving exchange between the soul and the Divine.
Acquired Recollection
Acquired Recollection, on the other hand, is a state or practice of gathering the faculties of the soul (the intellect, will, and memory) to focus them entirely on God. It involves an active effort on the part of the individual to interiorize their attention, withdrawing from external concerns and distractions to foster an awareness of God's presence. Acquired Recollection is considered "acquired" because it is developed through disciplined practice and effort. It is a form of mental prayer that seeks to cultivate an inner silence and attentiveness to God, serving as a preparation for deeper states of contemplative prayer. Through this practice, the soul learns to live more continuously in God's presence, even amid daily activities.
Key Differences
Focus and Engagement: Affective Prayer is primarily focused on engaging the emotions and affections in prayer, drawing the heart into a loving response to God. Acquired Recollection, while it can involve the affections, primarily focuses on gathering and focusing the mind and will towards God, seeking an inner silence and awareness of His presence.
Method and Effort: Affective Prayer involves an active cultivation of love and other emotions towards God, often flowing from meditation on divine truths. Acquired Recollection involves a more general effort to quiet the mind and heart from external distractions and focus on God's presence, requiring disciplined practice to interiorize one's attention.
Outcome and Purpose: The primary outcome of Affective Prayer is an increased love and desire for God, marked by a personal and relational depth. Acquired Recollection aims at cultivating an ongoing awareness of God's presence, serving as a foundation for deeper contemplation and union with God.
Both Affective Prayer and Acquired Recollection play crucial roles in the spiritual life, facilitating the soul's journey towards God. Affective Prayer enriches the relationship with God through the heart's affections, while Acquired Recollection builds the capacity for sustained awareness of and attention to God, paving the way for deeper contemplative experiences.