Breathing in the Creator

Spiritual Exercise 71

 

Preparation
I will allow my spirit to rest a little and consider where I am going and for what purpose. I make a gesture of reverence and humility. I read the prayer texts.

Opening Prayer
I ask for the grace to direct my whole self toward the Creator.

Desire
I desire to breathe in the Creator.

Prayer
I become aware of my breath passing through my nostrils. For five minutes, I feel and focus on the sensation of my breath flowing in and out of my nostrils.

Then I imagine, with each breath that I breathe out, that all the trees, plants, and flowers respond by breathing in. When they breathe out to offer oxygen, I breathe in. For five minutes I remain with this awareness of my breathing in and plants breathing out, of my breathing out and plants breathing in.

So I experience the rhythm of creation and creature breathing to live.

Now I imagine the same relationship between Creator and creature, God and myself. God breathes the Spirit into me, and I breathe out to renew the face of the earth. God breathes the Spirit into me, and I am re-created. I breathe the Spirit out to re-create life in my relationships, home, work, etc. I do this for five minutes.

So I experience the rhythm of Creator and creature breathing to renew the face of earth.

Conversation
I ask the Creator for the virtues or graces for which I feel the greatest need.

Prayer Texts

 

The spirit of God has made me,
and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Jb 33:4)

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and the man became a living being. (Gn 2:7)

Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes out of it,
who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it.
(Is 42:5)

These all look to you to give them their food in due season;
when you give to them, they gather it up;
when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
When you hide your face, they are dismayed;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created;
and you renew the face of the ground. (Ps 104:27–30)

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Time: 15-20 Minutes

Preparation: 2 minutes. Opening Prayer: 1 minute. Desire: 1 minute. Prayer: 10-15 minutes. Conversation: 1 minutes. Listening Book: 10 minutes.


 

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