PRE-SUPPOSITION

The PRAYER POINTS DESIGN is within the context of: An ongoing Spiritual Direction An Individually Guided or Semi-Directed Retreat

THE NEED TO DESIGN PRAYER POINTS The narrative of the SACRED TALE May be complete in itself for the moment yet unfinished. May lead to the opening of new possibilities.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Situation or Reality of the Directee DEMOGRAPHICS Age Status Background

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Age
The first half of life is devoted to forming a healthy ego, the second half is going inward and letting go of it. (C.G. Jung)

1st Half - Outward focus Sunrise perspective 2nd Half - Inward focus Sunset perspective Midlife - The bridge between the two

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Status
Single, Married, Widowed Legally Separated, Annulled, Divorced With a Partner

Background
Family Work

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Situation or Reality of the Directee
His Expressed desire (or Reason) for having a retreat or seeking Spiritual Direction Such Desire though may not necessarily be fully articulated at once by the Directee

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Key Facts, Feelings and Reactions, Spiritual Graces received

Renewed experienceof Gods presence Unexpected gift awe, wonder, & surprise Sense of freedom, Aliveness, & Enthusiasm Awakening of a desire Similarly, Blocks & Resistances

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Substance of the Prayer Matter
Theme Grace Text Prayer Method Points for Reflection

THEME
The Subject or Topic of the Prayer Related to where the Directee is in his/her Spiritual Journey
CALL FORGIVENESS HEALING GRIEF & LOSS

GRACE
Spiritual gift; interior disposition needed by the Directee to attain greater, inner freedom Begging for the grace humbles & disposes the Directee to pray better & allow him to all the more encounter God

TEXT
Material to be prayed over to draw personal reflections from Puts into focus the Religious Experience or where God & the Directee meet Scriptural Passages, Reading Article or Exccerpt from a Book, Nature, A Significant Experience (Recent or Distant)

PRAYER METHOD
A way of proceeding that would best elicit the Contemplative & Evocative process Meditation Contemplation - Application of Senses Awareness Lectio Divina

POINTS FOR PRAYER & REFLECTION

Present or recall an experience either Human or Divine in nature Surface Desires, Hopes and Expectations from the experience & bring them into conversation with God Consider & apply the teachings and insights gained from the Religious Experience Allow the Directee to Articulate & own the Experience

FORMULATIONOF QUESTIONS & REFLECTION POINTS

Based on the given text that allows & focuses the exploration of Human & Divine Experience Open-ended & Simple but encompassing a broad spectrum of experience Allows the contemplative process to unfold naturally, highlighting & deepening the Religious Experience

SOME DONT (S) IN DESIGNING PRAYER POINTS

DO NOT give critical explanations of God. It is not an exegesis. Let them experience God. DO NOT preach. It is not an opportunity to impose our own personal beliefs & religious experiences. DO NOT focus on what is not in the text. Stay within the parameters of the experience & bring it to the HERE & NOW. DO NOT overwhelm Directee with a barrage of questions. At most, give 2 to 3 significant points.

Walk with your directee. Do not walk for them.

SOME GUIDELINES IN CONSTRUCTING PRAYER EXERCSES FROM THE SCRIPTURES

1. Choose a passage that you sense is appropriate to your Retreatant or Directee 2. Identify the central character(s) in the story, their disposition(s), their stories. What do you find striking in their stories? 3. Draw a comparison between their stories & those of your Retreatant. -It could be as general as How does his story reflect yours? or it could be as specific as What do you think God is asking you to let go? 4. Stick to the main framework of the story 5. Suggest a closing prayer that expresses their experiences in their prayers.

SOME GOSPEL PASSAGES

Luke 13:10-13 Luke 18:35-43 Mark 10:46-52 Luke 19:1-10 Luke 7:36-50 John 11:38-44 Luke 5:1-11 Mark 5:24-34 The Crippled Woman The Blind Beggar Bartimaeus Zacchaeus The Pardon of the Sinful Woman The Raising of Lazarus The Call of Simon Peter The Bleeding Woman

SAMPLE PRAYER POINTS

(2ND CONFERENCE)
(From: pp62-63 Wood for the Fire Fr. Mon Bautista,SJ)

THEME: Christian Vocation Religious Life & Vows GRACE: My Lord Jesus, I beg for the grace of steadfastness & devotion to my God knowing well that in religious life, in the end, what he truly desires are not my achievements, not my successes, but my fidelity. SCRIPTURAL READING: Acts 20: 17-38 There is more happiness in giving than receiving- St. Paul POINTS for PRAYER & REFELECTION: Pray over Acts 20:17-38 :
How has this statement of St. Paul been true in your life as a religious? Go back to those times when you experienced more happiness in giving than receiving & relish them in your heart.