Ignatian Imaginative Prayer: Entering the Story of Scripture

Ignatian Imaginative Prayer invites us to experience a Bible story with the openness of a child. Using our God-given senses and imagination, we enter the scene, become a participant, and encounter Jesus within the story.

Where Imaginative Prayer Comes From

This practice comes from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits in the sixteenth century. Ignatius believed God could speak through our imagination as well as through our thoughts, memories, and emotions.

How to Practice Imaginative Prayer

Choose a Gospel story that describes an encounter with Jesus.

1. Become still. Sit comfortably and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer.
2. Read the story. Slowly receive the Scripture without analyzing it.
3. Enter the scene. Imagine the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and movement around you.
4. Find your place. Notice where you are in the story and what you are doing.
5. Encounter Jesus. Pay attention to what Jesus says or does and how you respond.
6. Continue the conversation. When the reading ends, remain with Jesus in prayer. Notice any emotions, questions, or invitations that arise.

Finish by journaling what you experienced. You do not have to visualize everything clearly. Simply receive the story through whatever you notice, sense, feel, or understand.

Learn More about Imaginative Prayer at a Hineni Retreat

Experience Ignatian Imaginative Prayer and other Christian contemplative practices at a Hineni Taste & See Retreat.