Part 2, Chapter 5
Repetition is the mother of learning; it can also be useful in prayer. “And if your mind finds sufficient matter, light and fruit to rest in any one consideration, dwell upon it, even as the bee, which hovers over one flower so long as it affords honey” (Introduction to the Devout Life, 43). What I mean by repetition is going back to the same scripture passage we have been meditating or contemplating with and praying with it some more. Now when we do this we are not looking to mine more information from the passage nor are we looking to repeat the same experience from the day before. What we are truly trying to do is grow in our relationship with the Lord and if this passage is helping us to do it, stay with it. Many times, I pray with the same passage for a day or two or even a week. When I believe that I have received all that God wants to give me from a particular passage, (at this time) I move on to another passage the next time that I pray.
How do I select a passage to pray with? A couple of thoughts: first, pray with the Gospels because they follow Jesus who is God walking the earth. Second, pray with the Psalms can be very fruitful as well. But I would really suggest starting with the Gospels. Many people pray with the Gospel for the Mass that day. We can get the readings for the Mass at www.usccb.org . Others pray with the Gospels in order and keep repeating the cycle. For example they might pray with Matthew 9:27-31 and then the next time Matthew 9:32-34. Both work and I have done each of them. Asking God which one we should do is the best priority.