Origin of this Method
The details of this method were influenced by previous methods of meditation (all methods of meditation have similar characteristics) but the underlying idea of this particular method originated with Cardinal Pierre de Bérulle, Fr. Charles de Condren, and Fr. Jean-Jacques Olier. Later, some details were added by Fr. Louis Tronson.
Purpose of Meditation
The purpose of meditation is "union with the Incarnate Word in order to render through Him the religious homage due to God, and to reproduce in ourselves the virtues of Jesus Christ."
I. Preparation.
Proximate or remote preparation: the night before
Choose the subject of meditation the night before, consider what requests you will make of God, and the resolutions you will take.
Remain in recollection & keep the subject in mind while falling asleep.
Upon waking, make your meditation as soon as you have free time.
Immediate preparation: the morning of
Place yourself in the presence of God, especially in your heart.
Second, humble yourself at the sight of your sins. Have contrition for your sins, and recite the Confiteor. Ask for forgiveness and unite yourself with Our Lord.
Third, acknowledge yourself incapable of praying as you ought to, and invoke the help of the Holy Ghost with the Veni, Sancte Spiritus.
II. Body of the Meditation
The Three Essential Acts: Adoration, Communion, and Co-operation
Adoration: "In Adoration we consider one of the attributes or one of the perfections of God, or else some virtue of Our Lord as the model of that virtue we are to practice. Then we offer to God, or to Our Lord, or to God through Our Lord, our religious homage in the form of: adoration, admiration, praise, thanksgiving, love, joy or compassion. By thus paying our duties to the Author of grace we render Him propitious to our prayers." Meditation begins by rendering homage to God by adoring Him for Who He is. Choose just one of His attributes or perfections to dwell on (if you don't know what those are, they are found in the Catechism). Some of the perfections of God are that He is eternal, He is all-good, He is all-knowing, He is all-present, He is Almighty, etc., etc. His intelligence, power, goodness, everything about Him has no limits. He knows all things, He can do all things. He is also perfect mercy and perfect justice. Choose one attribute or perfection, OR choose a virtue of Our Lord. Jesus Christ lived all the virtues perfectly, such a humility, meekness, temperance, patience, love, etc., etc. Once you have chosen a perfection of God or a virtue of Christ, now render homage to God by way of adoration, admiration, love or praise-- for example, adore God for His goodness, or thank God for His mercy, or admire God for His justice, or love Christ for his humility.
Communion, "whereby through prayer, we draw unto ourselves the perfection or the virtue which we have adored and admired in God." This is where we will take that perfection or virtue that we have adored or admired in God or Christ, and now we apply it to ourselves. Our goal is to be like God and to imitate Christ - now we have chosen a perfection or a virtue to imitate. Here we can think of our past conduct- how have I failed to practice this virtue in the past? And we can think of our future conduct- how can I better practice this virtue in the future?
Co-operation, "where, under the influence of grace, we determine to practice that virtue by forming at least one resolution which we strive to put into practice that very day. We are going to practice this virtue, but we know that we need God's grace in order to do it, so we have to humbly acknowledge our need of God's help-- so, we draw down God's graces by asking for His help, and then we form a resolution to put that virtue into practice with His help.
We need at least one concrete, practical resolution that we can do that day. This needs to be something that is practical, and can be done today. Nothing abstract or too far in the future; that wouldn't be a good or useful resolution. It needs to be specific and practical, and we need to be able to put it into practice this very day.
III. Conclusion
Thank God for the graces given during meditation.
Beg His pardon for faults and negligence during meditation.
Ask Him to bless your resolutions, your day, your life, and your death.
Pick the most striking thought you had during meditation and recall it during the day.
Place yourself and the fruit of your meditation into the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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