St Ignatius of Loyola, outlined a number of different prayer disciplines as a way to go deeper with the self, and deeper with God. The climax of these exercises he called 'Contemplation of the love of God'.

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So in an attitude of prayer, get into a good position and first be still.

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Imagine for a moment, that your life and all it contains was presented in front of you. All the people and elements that are important. Reflect on God’s gifts to you (life, family, friends, faith, church, spirituality, the future).

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Pause to reflect.

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Now imagine that you are facing Jesus. Reflect on how Jesus loves you, and how God in Jesus is self-giving.

 

Pause to reflect.

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Reflect on how you have experienced God’s continuing loving work in the world.

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Pause to reflect.

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Now reflect on the limitless quality of God’s love. As a contemporary paraphrase has it, “God’s love shines down upon me like the light rays from the sun, or God’s love is poured forth lavishly like a fountain spilling forth its waters into an unending stream.”

 

Pause to reflect.

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Finally at the end of this contemplation, St Ignatius invites us make a generous response in return. Why not offer the following prayer as an expression from the heart.

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Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will—all that I have and call my own. You have given it all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.

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Amen.