Living the State of Meditation

In order to live in the state of meditation it is necessary to have custody of one’s heart. This is acquired through the mortification of one’s eyes. (OOCC, X, p. 546; STA, 106)

Meditation is a state in which a person comes in personal encounter with God. It is not merely an isolated act that is performed one or the other time during the day. But rather it is a state of communion with God, which is to be lived on a regular basis. In the state of meditation, one comes to know who God is in himself, who God is to him, and who he is before God. In short, meditation establishes a deep and communicative relationship between God and a person. Also, in meditation a person becomes aware of his vocation in life and what God wants him to plan and accomplish through every day of his life in this world. In the life of St. Vincent Pallotti, meditation played a very vital role. But meditation is an art and it must be learned. According to St. Vincent, in order to acquire the art of meditation, it is necessary to discipline one’s inner self, i.e., his inner faculties of the mind and the heart. The disciplining of the inner self would be possible only if a person mortifies his external senses, especially one’s eyes, because they are windows to the outside world.  But, once learned, meditation gives a person a sense of direction and purpose for his life, in the process giving him a deeper God-experience.

Do I recognize the value of the state of meditation in my life? Do I discipline my inner faculties of the mind and the heart? Do I mortify my external senses in order to acquire the state of meditation? Do I make use of my meditation to establish a communicative relationship with God? Do I acquire a sense of direction and purpose in my life through meditation?

Stand before the Lord in awe, and do not sin against him. Lie quietly upon your bed in silent meditation. Put your trust in the Lord and offer him pleasing sacrifices. (Ps. 4: 4-5)