A central purpose of The Spiritual Exercises is to facilitate a transformative encounter with Jesus.
The composition of place, which is described in the initial exercise of the First Week, can be especially helpful in placing the retreatant in proximity to Our Lord:
When the contemplation or meditation is on something visible, for example, when we contemplate Christ our Lord, the representation will consist in seeing in imagination the material place where the object is that we wish to contemplate… In a case where the subject matter is not visible… the representation will be to see in imagination my soul… [#47]
From the time of Ignatius until today, some people are very nervous about the use of imagination in prayer. For me, the breakthrough came when I understood that my imagination is a gift from God and that, in every important sense, it doesn’t matter if I have a completely accurate recreation of Palestine in the time of Jesus loaded into my cerebellum or that I can describe the face of Jesus as it truly was. I can, however, trust that God will help me use my imagination in ways that will break open the Scriptures for me and draw me closer to Jesus.
When I do any kind of formal prayer, I approach my prayer place with reverence and a consciousness that I am in the loving Presence of God. I then do a “composition of place” in which I situate myself, first of all, in terms of my mood, my needs and desires. I then turn to the Scriptures and try to insert myself into the world of the passage on which I’ve chosen to contemplate.
I don’t honestly know if I’m doing it “the right way.” But it has been helpful to me over the years.
Do you practice any kind of “composition of place”?
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When I began my new ministry – unfamiliar church, people, town, nothing at all as I had anticipated — I was very much at loose ends about how to approach whatever it was that I was supposed to be doing. My spiritual director suggested using a form of composition of place to pray through those early months. I suppose that I still do it subconsciously, but it was a great help to pray very intentionally that way in those first uncertain times — it made such a difference in my coming to know the people and their concerns.
Robin,
It seems to me your spiritual director is a wise woman or man.
Paul
For the Examen, I tend to think about sitting in the sofa with God. I’m home visiting my dad and some of my sibs and realized that the sofa in question is at my brother’s…
For me, at least, the composition of place often has a sense of being caught up in God’s time, where things fold together into a single moment. So it is perfectly reasonable that Jesus and Mary are sitting across a table from each other with mugs of tea, and perfectly reasonable that Jesus is present to me as to the apostles.
All Time is now. All space is here.Time is suspended and physical boundaries no longer exist! Once you grasp that concept, you know that you can commune with anyone from anytime. The world of form is no longer limiting.
Michelle,
As I think you know, I find your image of sitting on the sofa with God very, very helpful. It’s changed how I do the Examen. Thank you and bless you.
Paul
I learned this practice from a Wiccan priest. It’s also used by Shamans. It’s not only place, but also breathing. With control of your breaths you can put yourself in a trance or dreamlike state. My experiences with this can be as real as the physical realm. I’ve gone “looking” but not with an end goal. When we would do dreamwork we would place ourselves in a natural setting and “travel”nsearching for a spirit guide. Always we would have another person there that could bring us back if we got stuck there. A sort of self hypnosis. The worst experience for me was the one I had with the spiritual exercises. Took a lot of time and effort to get untangled from that.
Emma,
I think you’ll find that good old Iggy got there with the breathing thing in the 16th Century…
Paul
I generally try to do the same approach as you Paul. I must say it does not always connect or work for me, but when it does it is quite an experience. As for the Examen, like Michelle I try think that I am just sitting across from God and just having a chat, asking God how the day went, and so on.
Tim,
It does not always connect or work for me either, Tim.
Paul
I used to “worry” more about the use of my imagination and “doing it right.” This is not as much of a problem these days. I do love the idea of Composition of Place and the Ignatian notion of placing ourselves in the story.
Whether it is imagining myself in the Scriptural moment or just chatting with God, I do find this very helpful.
Fran,
We are so alike in this area.
Paul
Thanks for explaining how you go about this Paul. In a strange kind of way, it feels quite prayerful just being able to read what you wrote.
Margaret
Margaret,
Praise God! I am so thankful that you found what I wrote helpful. I wasn’t sure if I was on the right track.
Paul
I have trouble staying focused on when I sit down. I have always had trouble being inactive. I tend to do it best when walking. I just imagine I’m walking along with a pal and sharing my worries and my woes. I’m not sure that’s the right way either but it’s as good as I can manage.
Walking—like on the road to Emmaus! I do that too. But always end with Him breaking bread and I’m once again filled with understanding and hope! Try ending your walk that way. Invite this person to dinner, imagine him breaking bread–——–then see how you are restored when you realize who exactly it is that you’ve been sharing the road with
Well I had not thought of it like that but I can but hope
Simon,
Sounds great to me. What works for you, works for you.
Paul
I find that I too try to imagine being face to face or side by side with Jesus. On the tougher days I imagine a loving hug from him as well–it gets me through whatever it is I am going through at the moment.
Kathy,
A loving hug from Jesus… what could possibly be better?
Paul
I sit on the couch and lean on Jesus or imagine myself sitting at his feet and leaning on his leg. I have spent many hours like that. Then I can enter the Scripture passage after spending time just with Jesus. The wonder of it all is that Jesus is there in just the way that each person needs him at that particular moment!
Lynda,
Thank you for sharing this with us. I love the idea of you leaning on his leg. So real. So human. So genuine.
Paul
My place is with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, not a sorrowful place, but a place where I watch him talk to his Father, watching his demeanor and expressions because his prayers are wordless, but the intense communication between them could almost be heard. I situate my self seated and leaning on the rock beside him where he is kneeling, and holding on to the hem of his garment. I just gaze at him because I am also drawn into the intensity of the prayer, and become one with everything that transpires between him and the Father and the Holy Spirit.
At other times, I just sit there with Jesus, but always in silence, just relishing the deep peace, the healing silence, and love that seems to engulf me in that place. It is a kind of serenity that cannot be put into words except to say that the silence is wonderfully deafening. I find so much peace just “hanging around with him” when I have a problem or issues to resolve. Yet even in that wordlessness, and with his arm touching my head or my shoulder, I seem to be strengthened. I am not given the answers on how I solve my problems, but my whole being seems to be ready in handling them. I always leave with a hug from him and I feel the thrill of hearing him utter my name each time I leave the place.
Absolutely beautiful! I also find solace in the Garden alone with Jesus just sitting with him.
Thank you, Lynda. Maybe one day you and I will have fellowship with him! Praise God!
Dolly,
Reading what you wrote… I felt that I was on holy ground. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Paul
My Jesus is the Jesuus at the wedding feast. He does make sure that there’s plenty of good wine, at the request of His Motther, but more importantly, He is participating in the festivities! Hue is laughing and celebrating and inclusive. He says “Come, this is all for you. I’ve saved the best for last. Join Me. Dance. Sing. Don’t make it such a chore. I’ve done all the work. This is for you. Cellebrate! This day was meant to be relished, not a laborious. I’ll do the heavy lifting. Oh, just remember, love your “enemy”. Think justice, love mercy, and walk humbly. Don’t forget to laugh in the face of despair and doubt and all will be given you.” That’s Jesus. That’s where I most often meet Him. At the Wedding Feast.
Emma,
I’m right there with you. Jesus celebrating with his friends at Cana (and dealing with his Jewish mother!) is one of my favorite images of the Lord.
Paul
Yesterday, at the end of the Gospel, in Gennesaret, people brought to Jesus all those who were sick. This was a great moment for me to mingle in the crowds and come close to Jesus to beg for healing as well… I needed those crowds to forget my self-consciousness in such a situation of need and become one of the anawims…
A very special moment.
Claire,
How lovely. And thank you for the reminder that we all need to identify with, and become, one of the anawim.
Paul
I have always built on the physical and ethereal senses for meditation and prayer. In my own blog I often create a compostion of place – I have been also told that this is like a Midrash – a Rabbinic way of filling out a line of scripture. Jesus is human – hanging around, catching my eye, raising the eyebrows(quite a bit on that one), sitting walking. Just give him time and he will have all the time in world for you.
Mairie,
“Just give him time and he will have all the time in world for you.” Fantastic. Thank you!
Paul
And last of all, sitting on tthe shore, sharing breakkfast he asks as he looks into my eyes, “Do you love me?” Thanks Paul. I’ve just revisited my walk into Christ! Perfect timing.
Emma,
John 21. My absolute fave. You had me “on the shore.”
Paul
I don’t know — and I don’t care! — if you’re “doing it right.” But I think the idea of doing a “composition of place” in terms of “Where do I find myself today?” emotionally, mentally and spirtually is brilliant and awesome. Thank you — and I’m stealing this.
When I am trying to place myself in a Gospel passage, I do usually start with trying to experince the landscape or the surrounding room before I invite the actors into the scene.
And when (not if…) I start getting distracted, I come back to the sounds, sights, smells and feel of the place to refocus my attention.
Denise,
You cannot steal what is freely given. And given not by me but by the community of faith long before Ignatius or any other guru.
Paul
I’m stuck on yesterday’s post about sex……unfortunately, I’m sitting at an immigration checkpoint in Arizona, US aka 1940′s Germany, with only a dog for company, so I’d better get off that train of thought ; – (
I do know that I place myself in an environment or a situation and pray from that point. It does have to include a degree of reverance.
Got lost, didn’t ya??? I told you so.
Emma, you are sooooo bad!!!
Well………….when he called this morning and told me he thought he was going in the wrong direction, I specifically told him to “stop and ask someone”, but nooooooooooooo….Rico thinks you get to California from Phoenix by going to Mexico! LOLPIP!!!!!!!!!!!
Funny! I did not go into Mexico. I made a u-turn at the crossing in Nogales. I guess I wasn’t supposed to. I was expected to wait in that line, then turn around and wait in the line coming back into the US. At least, that’s what the nice bp agent said. I never did get an answer to the question, “Why? I didn’t want to go there.” To prove his point, I sat in the car, which he instructed me to shut down and waited in a car that he told me not to exit, in 110 degree heat. Your dog damn near died. So did I come to think of it. But, I’m now on the right path. Not anxious to visit Arizona again anytime soon. Love you, ladies.
How did you get that far tho’ without seeing the road signs??? Honest to God, Rico, the border is no place for you to be!!!! Next time, ask for directions or buy a map…………ever heard of “Google Earth”??? Texting. I know you were texting when you should have been paying attention to the road! I still can’t understand how you got to Mexico?????????????? or within a few feet of it. It’s nowhere near where you were supposed to be going. Never mind. Your first post here says it all. You were thinking of the wrong thing………it’s Paul’s fault
How did my post come up with your name???? I admit it, I was checking your mail……..busted.
Busted! Love it. And you want to know how I get lost??? I rest my case.
“Lucy”.
Rico & Emma,
You are, both of you, priceless. I can’t wait to meet you face-to-face.
Paul
We’re driving and leaving tonight as soon as the sun goes down! one of us is traumatized and won’t drive through the desert during the daylight hours! Guess who that is??? Not *Lucy*!!! making a few stops on the way. I’ve been looking forward to this for quite awhile now! Look out Chicago!!!!!!!!