Contemplative prayer lies at the very heart of Carmelite spirituality. It is not a special technique or secret method, but a loving gaze toward God who dwells within. St. Teresa of Jesus described it simply as "a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us."
In contemplative prayer, words fall away and the soul rests quietly in God's presence. This prayer does not depend on what we say or feel, but on the gentle movement of grace that draws the soul into communion. It is a gift God gives to those who persevere in friendship with Him through faith, humility, and love.
From meditation to contemplation
Carmelite tradition distinguishes between meditation and contemplation, yet both belong to the same journey.
Meditation is an active effort — we use Scripture, images, or reflections to stir love and understanding of God's truth. It engages our mind and heart in conversation with the Lord.
Contemplation, on the other hand, is receptive. After much faithfulness in meditation and virtue, the soul begins to experience prayer as pure gift — a still, interior knowing that God is near.
St. John of the Cross calls this "the inflowing of God's love into the soul." It is not achieved by effort but received through surrender. The Carmelite learns to let go of control and allow the Spirit to pray within, even when nothing seems to happen outwardly.
The interior posture
To enter contemplative prayer, one must cultivate certain inner attitudes:
- Silence – not only external quiet, but an interior stillness that lets go of distractions and anxieties.
- Faith – a simple, loving awareness that God is here, even when no sense confirms it.
- Detachment – freedom from clinging to feelings, ideas, or results in prayer.
- Perseverance – remaining faithful to prayer even in dryness or darkness.
This quiet faithfulness trains the soul to recognize God's presence beyond thought and emotion. Gradually, the prayer of quiet deepens into what Teresa calls the prayer of union, where the will is gently absorbed in God's love.
The fruit of contemplative prayer
True contemplation always bears fruit in charity. It does not isolate the soul but makes it more compassionate, humble, and ready to serve. The more we dwell in God's silence, the more we begin to see with His eyes and love with His heart.
In Carmel, contemplation overflows into daily life — in our families, parishes, and workplaces. It teaches us to live "in the presence of the Living God" throughout the day, finding Him in the ordinary, in others, and even in suffering.
For members of the Secular Order, this means our homes, jobs, and relationships can become the very place where contemplative prayer takes root. Each moment becomes a meeting with God hidden in simplicity.
The Marian and prophetic model
Our Lady is the perfect model of contemplative prayer. In her silence, she "kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." She teaches us to receive the Word in faith and allow it to bear fruit in obedience and love.
The prophet Elijah, too, shows us the contemplative spirit of Carmel — zealous for God's glory, yet seeking Him not in wind or fire, but in the gentle whisper. Contemplation thus unites both the prophetic and the Marian dimensions of our charism: listening deeply and responding faithfully.
Living the art of contemplation
Contemplative prayer is less an activity than a relationship — one that deepens over a lifetime. It grows through fidelity to daily prayer, reading of Scripture, participation in the sacraments, and a life of virtue.
To practice this "art" is to allow oneself to be formed by love, shaped by silence, and purified by trust. We do not master it; it masters us. We do not "do" contemplation; we become contemplatives through the slow work of grace.
In the end, contemplative prayer is nothing less than the realization of our Carmelite vocation — to live in intimate friendship with God, in the heart of the Church, for the life of the world.