Think of the Ignatian Prayer Method—named after Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556 CE)—as a virtual experience of the scripture where you read the scripture and then create in your mind a short video about what you read. Ignatius of Loyola’s remarkable imagination was responsible in large part for his conversion to Christianity. While recovering from battle injuries, Ignatius filled a notebook with his thoughts as he read about the life of Christ and the saints. There, he recorded noble ideas of what he might do with his life. These daydreams and imaginings formed the foundation of his future work, Spiritual Exercises.
With Ignatius as our guide, our imagination becomes a way to help us know and love God. As we read a scripture passage, we become careful observers of all that takes place. Giving free rein to our imagination, we become both watchers and participants in the story. We feel the heat of the summer sun, smell the dust as we walk along, and sense the desperation of the sick who come to Jesus for healing. Not only do we hear the words recorded in the Gospels, but we also imagine other things Jesus might have said or done. Imaginative prayer—the Ignatian Prayer Method—helps Jesus come alive to us.
In the Ignatian Prayer Method, you enter into the story to learn more about and participate more fully in the mind, heart, and work of Christ. As you read the scripture, reflect on the following questions:
Pick one of the following scriptures and see where your imagination takes you.
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