Ignatian Contemplation: Imaginative Prayer with Scripture

A Sacred Encounter with Christ Through the Imagination

Ignatian Contemplation is one of the most beloved and transformative practices in Christian prayer. Rooted in the 16th-century spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, this form of prayer invites us to encounter God not only through reading and reflection but through imaginative participation in Scripture¹. In Ignatian Contemplation, the Word of God becomes alive—not just as text on a page, but as a sacred drama into which we are personally invited.

St. Ignatius developed this approach to help people grow in intimacy with Jesus by entering into the Gospel stories with all the faculties of the soul—mind, heart, senses, and spirit². It is an embodied, experiential, and relational way of praying. Through this practice, we do not merely study Scripture; we step into it.

The goal is not to analyze or interpret the passage intellectually, but to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through it in a personal and transformative way. The story becomes a space of divine encounter. Through it, God meets and interacts with us—gently, uniquely, and profoundly.

“It is not much knowledge that fills and satisfies the soul, but the intimate understanding and savoring of the truth.”
— St. Ignatius of Loyola³

Imaginative Prayer: A Foundation of Christian Contemplation

Imaginative prayer is foundational for those walking the contemplative path. It is often used within other disciplines such as Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, and even the Scriptural Rosary, but in Ignatian Contemplation, it takes center stage. This method calls for a spiritual sensitivity—a willingness to be led by the Spirit rather than the intellect.

When practiced regularly, it helps develop the soul’s attentiveness, deepens emotional intimacy with Christ, and opens the heart to healing, insight, and transformation⁴.

This is not “daydreaming” or fantasy. Rather, it is the sanctified use of the imagination as a doorway into the living presence of God. As with all forms of prayer, we do not force the experience—we surrender to it. God leads. We listen.

Preparation for Ignatian Prayer

Before entering into Ignatian Contemplation, prepare your heart and surroundings. Find a quiet, sacred space. Light a candle if it helps center you. Breathe slowly. Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer⁵.

“Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

You may choose a passage from one of the Gospels—something narrative, rich with action and emotion. Stories like Jesus calming the storm, healing the blind man, washing the disciples’ feet, or meeting Mary Magdalene in the garden work beautifully.

The Four Movements of Ignatian Contemplation

The process unfolds in four gentle movements, each drawing you deeper into the sacred mystery.

First Reading: Orientation and Sensory Awakening

Read the passage aloud two times.
Gain a general sense of the story.
Begin to “compose the place”—a key Ignatian practice⁶. Imagine the scene unfolding before you.

Ask yourself:
• What do I see?
• What do I hear?
• What do I feel physically and emotionally?

This is not yet full immersion. It is like opening the door and stepping into the atmosphere of the story.

Second Reading: Awareness of Characters and Details

• Read the passage two more times, entering a more mindful state.
• Observe the key figures in the story.
• Who is leading the action?
• What are they saying?
• Who else is present?
• What are they doing?
• How do they interact?

Compose the place again, but now more richly. Take note of voices, gestures, tones of speech, the landscape, the light.

You are beginning to become part of the moment.

Third Reading: Entering the Scene Personally

• Read the passage again slowly, then close your eyes.
• Breathe. Relax into a contemplative posture.
• Place yourself within the story.

Ask:
• Who am I in this scene?
• Am I a participant, an observer, a disciple, a bystander?
• How do I feel emotionally?
• What are the sounds, the smells, the colors, the textures?

Let the story unfold around you as if you are there. Remain still and attentive.

Fourth Reading: Encounter and Dialogue

• Read once more, if needed, then return to silence.
• Remain in a contemplative state.
• Let yourself fully experience the moment—as the person you have become within the scene.

Open your heart:
• Speak to others in the scene.
• Speak to Jesus if He is present.
• Listen for replies—words, feelings, impressions.
• Ask questions, and be still long enough to receive.

Let the interaction happen naturally. Don’t rush or control the moment. Let it be sacred.

You may feel joy, conviction, insight, peace, or even discomfort. Each of these may be God’s way of drawing you deeper into relationship.

After the Prayer: Integration and Reflection

Immediately after the experience, write down everything you remember. Impressions fade quickly, and even subtle details may be meaningful later. Find a quiet place to meditate on what you wrote. What stood out to you? What surprised you? Did Jesus say anything to you? Did you feel God’s presence? Pray for wisdom and understanding. Ask God how He is inviting you to grow or change in response to what you experienced.

A Lifelong Practice of Sacred Imagination

Ignatian Contemplation is not something to master in one sitting. It is a spiritual art that matures over time. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes to enter into Scripture in this intimate, participatory way.

“The spiritual exercises are meant to help us find God in all things—not just in prayer, but in daily life.”
— St. Ignatius of Loyola⁷

Whether you are practicing Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, the Rosary, or any other form of contemplative prayer, the ability to place yourself prayerfully within sacred stories will deepen your communion with God.

Final Encouragement

Let your heart remain open. Do not be discouraged if your imagination feels weak or distracted. God honors every sincere effort. Remember, it is not about performance, but about presence. Jesus desires to meet you personally—and Scripture is one of the most beautiful places where He waits. Let your imagination become the doorway to encounter, and let your soul be shaped by the living Word of God.

Footnotes
1. St. Ignatius of Loyola, The Spiritual Exercises, trans. Louis J. Puhl, SJ (Loyola Press, 1951), #106–109.
2. David L. Fleming, SJ, Draw Me Into Your Friendship: The Spiritual Exercises—A Literal Translation and Contemporary Reading (The Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1996).
3. St. Ignatius, Spiritual Exercises, annotation #2.
4. Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV, Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture (The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2008).
5. William A. Barry, SJ and William J. Connolly, SJ, The Practice of Spiritual Direction (HarperOne, 2009), 75–78.
6. Joseph A. Tetlow, SJ, Choosing Christ in the World: Directing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola According to Annotations Eighteen and Nineteen (The Institute of Jesuit Sources, 1999), 21.
7. St. Ignatius of Loyola, Finding God in All Things, a central principle in Jesuit spirituality.