The prayer: the body speaks together.
Oral prayer uses words, songs, and gestures to express faith. The common prayer of the Church connects individual prayer with the community and helps us to pray even when we haven't found our own words.
Reflection: Understanding in order to respond
Meditation involves using intellect, imagination, emotions, and desires to understand God's Word, relate it to life, and arrive at a decision. Reading extensively without letting the Word touch one's life is not the goal.
Contemplation: Staying in Love
Contemplation is loving and silent attention directed towards Jesus. It is not a technique for emptying the mind or seeking special sensations, but a gift of communion received through poverty.
These three modes of expression do not compete: words can lead to contemplation, contemplation opens up silence, and reflection deepens words and actions.
Try this 10-minute exercise: slowly read a passage from the Gospel, choose a verse, reflect on what it says about your life, and then remain silent for two minutes before the Lord.
References
Path progress
Prayer, meditation, and contemplation.
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