God’s presence external or in the heart.

Quite interesting is the question of what idea he lives with the collective consciousness of God’s presence. We all know that God is a spirit, that He is everywhere. Nevertheless, we must imagine him as a person, or at least as a symbol, so that we can think of him. The favorite performance of St. Ignatius is the one he knew from the court life of his time: the Lord on the throne amid His saints. We eat in front of him and kneel. Similarly, Cisneros writes to the monks: “When it rings bell, go straight to the choir and say to yourself, ‘The big one is calling me the king!’… When you enter the choir, sprinkle with the saint in the duo, renounce Asperger me hyssop, bow deeply before the tabernacle … Then stand in your place, be in the spirit and express your intentions … »
In a letter to the Bishop of Osma, who seems to be small after the meditation negotiations, St. Theresa: «Make the cross and then accuse even the smallest of them before God errors since the last confession. Try to disengage from everything as if you were at this very moment to die … Then say, ‘I am coming, Lord, to yours school to learn something there, not to sew … ‘Imagine with your inner and outer eyes of the crucified Jesus Christ, look at him, watch
him in every detail, with mental peace and love … »
The so-called method of Hesychasts, Greek monks from the top Athos, on the other hand, does not trust any external image of God. That, as they say, moves away from the true feeling of God’s presence. If we still have God somehow to imagine, then it is better to think about how he lives in our own heart, feel the place where God is, and identify with the Holy Spirit, who here calls Abba, the Father (Gal 4: 6). So, he writes, e.g., Simeon the New Theologian: “The saints of the Father finally left all other forms of piety and devoted themselves only to concentration in the heart. They worked in the field and became worthy to eat manna in their hearts. »

Physical posture during contemplation
The so-called fourth appendix speaks briefly of bodily posture in prayer. However, the text of the Exercises assumes certain positions that could be eccentric in our environment. But the principle itself is correct and moderate: «We are approaching to look either at the knees or lying face down on ground or face to face, but always with intent look for what i want. We will keep two things in mind: after
first, if I find what I want on my knees, I will not advance further (so I will not try another position), and if I find it lying down face, too, etc .; secondly, if I find it what I want, at one point (that is, one idea, substance contemplation), I will remain without fear of having to drink to the next point until I do not satisfactorily. “
These are practical notes. Their purpose is, above all, to calm down the unfocused, anxious, nervous. Why, e.g., kneel when it’s the effort that distracts? Why did you think that we must take as much substance as possible in contemplation? The less, the better! Just let it be something to us directly touches. Then let’s never forget the best
condition for contemplation is peace of mind. In that sense, writes St. Ignatius in another place: «Before I give up into prayer, I will make sure that I am completely at ease by sitting down or walking. Then I kneel or sit down, depending on how it works better for me in piety, I close my eyes or fix them motionless. to a subject. »
It is, therefore, nothing special that we find in the clergy books on a wide range of advice on which position is most appropriate for reflection. According to Gerson, it should stand with its eyes lifted to the sky. Dionysus Carthusian advises the other way around, eyes close. William of Paris found that he was most comfortable with his left-hand so that his heart would be at peace. Cisneros recommends strong gestures, so whoever he prays shows on the outside what he meditates on. He raises his hand with Aaron, kneels with Solomon. When he meditates on Christ vi in ​​the Garden of Gethsemane, he will kneel like him. You sit down At the feet of Jesus as Magdalene, he shall turn his eyes to the earth published or will look to heaven as apostles at the ascension of the Lord. Cisneros also draws attention to the fact that another method is suitable for beginners and another for
advanced. Beginners should pray on their knees, so eyes downcast, arms crossed, with frequent clones. The avant-garde also pray on their knees, but their hands and eyes are raised to the sky. They are perfect
pray standing, eyes turned to heaven, kindled by the flame of desire with sighs of love. Eventually, those who are valid will sit quietly at Jesus’ feet. Interestingly, none of the author’s names for walking while meditating. Maybe he considers it less reverent for one who perceives the presence of God alive. Perhaps there is another reason. Intense concentration requires some sort of sensory immobility. The Eastern Hesychasts, who also used the so-called physical methods: motionless sitting in a dark corner of the cell with his head tilted to his chest, with his right prolonged and delayed breathing.
In modern times, some adapt. Eastern yoga prayer. Theoretically, of course, he cannot be an objection. It is good to make every effort to ensure that the body, position, and function serve as best they can.