Welcome to the Art of Catholic, I'm Matthew Leonard.

If you're wondering why there's a little bit of a different style of music at the front

end of this show than is normal, that's because today is a little bit of a different

kind of a show.

Instead of me interviewing someone or diving into a particular topic, I want to give you

a little bit of practical exposure to what I think is one of the most important, yet misunderstood topics in Catholicism.

Namely, meditative prayer. Meditative prayer is probably the number one thing the most

Catholics aren't doing that they should be doing. And when I say doing, I mean on a daily basis,

prayer is fundamental to the Catholic life. And while there are three different fundamental modes of prayer,

so vocal, meditative, and contemplative prayer,

meditation is the key for most of us.

Why?

Well, because most of us say some kind of a vocal prayer already.

Why, we have a rose-reason or lit knees and such,

and we say vocal prayers in the mass, et cetera.

Contemplation, the highest form of prayer is something that only God can give

to us. It's infused by Him and we can't make it happen. It's a total free gift from Him.

Meditation, though, is something that many Catholics don't practice but is absolutely necessary

for any progress in the spiritual life. If you don't have a life of regular meditative prayer,

you're fooling yourself if you think that you're making

any kind of progress in the spiritual life.

You know, it's funny, a lot of people think

...