We know the Rosary matters. We know the Mass is essential. But is there another kind of prayer that Christians need if they want to grow deeper in the spiritual life?
On The Inner Life, Patrick Conley and Fr. Eric Nielsen explored mental prayer, unscripted prayer in which we intentionally lift our hearts and minds to God.
Unlike vocal prayers, such as the Hail Mary, Rosary, or the Mass, mental prayer is not scripted. But that doesn’t make vocal prayer less important. As Fr. Eric emphasized, “All prayer should come from the heart.”
Mental prayer creates space for a personal encounter with the Lord. Sometimes that means having a conversation with God. Other times, it can mean simply contemplating Him or a truth of the Faith.
And in a world overflowing with distractions, setting aside that time is especially important.
“We can’t just be rushing through the day, you know, saying our rosary and going to bed,” Fr. Eric explained. We need time deliberately set apart to allow the Lord to work in our hearts.
He offered a sports analogy: “The Rosary is kind of like, you know, working out in the gym, and the Mass is the game. But mental prayer is the practice.”
Just as an athlete practices so he can perform when the game begins, mental prayer prepares us to enter more deeply into the Mass and encounter Jesus there.
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