““Contemplative prayer is not so much a type of prayer as something that should be a component of all prayer. It is the silence and space for stillness before God that supports genuine presence and openness to God . . . Sadly, it is this contemplative dimension that is most lacking from prayer. Communal prayer seldom leaves sufficient space for stillness before God in silence. Even liturgical prayer often leaves inadequate space for silence, and nonliturgical worship experiences are, of course, usually infamously devoid of silence. Intentional times of personal prayer are often rushed and reduced to the basics of petitions, intercession and possibly an expression or two of gratitude. All this is certainly worthy of being called prayer. But lacking the contemplative dimension, it is not holistic prayer and it will not be transformational.””
![“It is to this silence [contemplative prayer] that we all…” quote by Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f97/henri-nouwen-600_contemplative_it-is-to-this-silence-contemplative-pray_179446.jpg)
![“Prayer [is] the quiet, persistent living of our life of…” quote by Andrew Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3a5/andrew-murray-1530_desire_prayer-is-the-quiet-persistent-living-of_2310531.jpg)
![“Contemplative prayer [oración mental] in my opinion is nothing else…” quote by Teresa of Avila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/03f/teresa-of-vila-1246_contemplative_contemplative-prayer-oraci-n-mental-in-m_1153670.jpg)
