Which is a representative example of Meditative/Contemplative prayer?

• A. Our Father
• B. The Mass
• C. Breath prayer
• D. Lectio Divina

Answer: (D)

Meditative and contemplative prayer focus on turning inward to listen for God and to rest in God’s presence, often through practices that slow the mind and heart and invite God to speak beyond words. Lectio Divina embodies this approach by guiding a person through a deliberate encounter with Scripture that moves from reading to reflection, to prayer, and finally to contemplative stillness. The process starts with listening to a biblical text, then pondering its meaning for one’s life, responding to God in prayer, and finally resting in God’s presence. This sequence intentionally cultivates attentiveness and interior dialogue with God, which is the heart of contemplative practice.

Other options represent different prayer forms. The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) is a model of vocal prayer, a direct conversation with God using set language. The Mass is a rich liturgical celebration that includes Scripture, prayer, and sacramental action but as a whole is primarily a communal liturgical rite rather than a personal contemplative method. A breath prayer is a shorter, focused technique that centers attention on short phrases coordinated with breathing; it can be deeply calming and contemplative, but it’s a narrower practice compared to the fuller, scripturally grounded format of Lectio Divina.