Four Kinds of Temperament in Prayer

The Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan and Thomistic temperaments

Introduction:

This Catholic spirituality article will describe in simple style the four
kinds of temperament in prayer a person can have or follow in prayer. Though
this article on Catholic spirituality will not anymore mention the Myers-
Briggs personality type indicator from which the four kinds of temperament
are based upon, it will nevertheless mention the faculties used in combination,
that form each kind of temperament. After describing each kind of temperament,
this article will give a tip on how you can pray using the style of each
temperament.

Ignatian temperament

This temperament follows the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The
prayer style that St. Ignatius uses, and which he also trained his companion
Jesuits to do, was to use the senses of the imagination while meditating on
on a gospel scene. This type of prayer puts one in the past - in the biblical
scene itself - and makes us note the sights and sounds we experience and
associate with the scene. Because the gospel scene is fixed and there is
a succession of events, this prayer comes out to be very structured.

Prayer tip:

Select a favorite gospel passage (read it once or twice)
Situate yourself in scene (sense your surroundings)
Focus your attention on Jesus and what He is saying or doing
Imagine Jesus speaking to you or healing you
Discover a sense of Jesus' love for you through this prayer experience

Augustinian temperament

This temperament follows the spirituality of St. Augustine of Hippo. In this
temperament, the prayer style involves one's intuition and feelings. While
Ignatian prayer is structured, Augustinian prayer is more free-form. Combined
with feelings, it can really lead one to heights of spiritual consolation. Many
of the saints who were canonized in our Church used very much this form of
prayer.

Prayer tip:

Pick a Psalm (a psalm on Yahweh speaking to Israel would be good)
When reading the Psalm, instead of using the word "Israel", replace it with
your own name
Get in touch with your feelings as Yahweh addresses you (note especially
feelings of peace, consolation, protection, security, love, tenderness, etc.)
Reflect on what this prayer experience means for you personally today

Franciscan temperament

This temperament of prayer follows the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi.
In this type of prayer, one's senses and perception are well-activated. This
type of prayer would be best done outdoors where one can be in touch with
nature, and can move freely from one place to another. Those who are familiar
with this form of prayer usually pray their best at retreats and recollections
where there are plenty of trees, plants and birds within the gardens or shrines
of the retreat house.

Prayer tip:

Go to a place where nature abounds
Feel the beauty and freshness of nature
Pick up a flower or a leaf that attracts your attention and wonder at the
way God has created it
Glorify and praise God in prayer for this gift of nature and for all the
good that you experience that very moment

Thomistic temperament

This temperament of prayer follows the spirituality of St. Thomas Aquinas - a
member of the Dominican Order. In this type of prayer, logic and the cause and
effect principle is applied to the doctrines and truths of our faith. A lot
of our thinking faculty is used in this prayer. The prayer progresses from
one proposition to another, until a logical conclusion or an ethical demand
is arrived at.

Prayer tip:

Take any virtue - for example, humility
Reflect. What does it mean?
What is the connection between humility and authenticity?
What did Jesus say about humility?
Who are good biblical examples of humility?
Examine your own humility
What should I do to be more humble?
End with a prayer to Jesus for the gift of humility

Summary:

Though we may have a particular temperament that we often use in prayer, try
to discover which of the four kinds of temperament described above comes
closest to your style of prayer. After you do, you can enhance your own
style even more by studying more of the spirituality from which your style
of prayer is similar with. If you are open to try the other styles of prayer
which are different from your own style, you may do so, for this will even be
better as it will give you the opportunity to broaden your understanding of
our Catholic tradition and spirituality - most specifically, in our ways of
praying.

Dennis-Emmanuel Cabrera
July 16, 2005

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Author's note: For more information about the four kinds of temperament in prayer, you can search using the key phrase of each kind of temperament Four Kinds of Temperament in Prayer The Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan and Thomistic temperaments Introduction: This Catholic spirituality article will describe in simple style the four kinds of temperament in prayer a person can have or follow in prayer. Though this article on Catholic spirituality will not anymore mention the Myers- Briggs personality type indicator from which the four kinds of temperament are based upon, it will nevertheless mention the faculties used in combination, that form each kind of temperament. After describing each kind of temperament, this article will give a tip on how you can pray using the style of each temperament. Ignatian temperament This temperament follows the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The prayer style that St. Ignatius uses, and which he also trained his companion Jesuits to do, was to use the senses of the imagination while meditating on on a gospel scene. This type of prayer puts one in the past - in the biblical scene itself - and makes us note the sights and sounds we experience and associate with the scene. Because the gospel scene is fixed and there is a succession of events, this prayer comes out to be very structured. Prayer tip: Select a favorite gospel passage (read it once or twice) Situate yourself in scene (sense your surroundings) Focus your attention on Jesus and what He is saying or doing Imagine Jesus speaking to you or healing you Discover a sense of Jesus' love for you through this prayer experience Augustinian temperament This temperament follows the spirituality of St. Augustine of Hippo. In this temperament, the prayer style involves one's intuition and feelings. While Ignatian prayer is structured, Augustinian prayer is more free-form. Combined with feelings, it can really lead one to heights of spiritual consolation. Many of the saints who were canonized in our Church used very much this form of prayer. Prayer tip: Pick a Psalm (a psalm on Yahweh speaking to Israel would be good) When reading the Psalm, instead of using the word "Israel", replace it with your own name Get in touch with your feelings as Yahweh addresses you (note especially feelings of peace, consolation, protection, security, love, tenderness, etc.) Reflect on what this prayer experience means for you personally today Franciscan temperament This temperament of prayer follows the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi. In this type of prayer, one's senses and perception are well-activated. This type of prayer would be best done outdoors where one can be in touch with nature, and can move freely from one place to another. Those who are familiar with this form of prayer usually pray their best at retreats and recollections where there are plenty of trees, plants and birds within the gardens or shrines of the retreat house. Prayer tip: Go to a place where nature abounds Feel the beauty and freshness of nature Pick up a flower or a leaf that attracts your attention and wonder at the way God has created it Glorify and praise God in prayer for this gift of nature and for all the good that you experience that very moment Thomistic temperament This temperament of prayer follows the spirituality of St. Thomas Aquinas - a member of the Dominican Order. In this type of prayer, logic and the cause and effect principle is applied to the doctrines and truths of our faith. A lot of our thinking faculty is used in this prayer. The prayer progresses from one proposition to another, until a logical conclusion or an ethical demand is arrived at. Prayer tip: Take any virtue - for example, humility Reflect. What does it mean? What is the connection between humility and authenticity? What did Jesus say about humility? Who are good biblical examples of humility? Examine your own humility What should I do to be more humble? End with a prayer to Jesus for the gift of humility Summary: Though we may have a particular temperament that we often use in prayer, try to discover which of the four kinds of temperament described above comes closest to your style of prayer. After you do, you can enhance your own style even more by studying more of the spirituality from which your style of prayer is similar with. If you are open to try the other styles of prayer which are different from your own style, you may do so, for this will even be better as it will give you the opportunity to broaden your understanding of our Catholic tradition and spirituality - most specifically, in our ways of praying. Dennis-Emmanuel Cabrera July 16, 2005 If you wish to copy ideas, insights and suggestion from the articles and content in this website, kindly make a link to: Catholic Internet Mission: Proclaiming the Gospel Online Free Ideas and Information on Catholicism and the Internet http://www.pcentral-online.net Catholic Internet Mission: Proclaiming the Gospel Online	Subscription to Catholic Internet Mission RSS Feed (click the + MY YAHOO button to add this RSS Feed) Subscription to Catholic Internet Mission RSS Feed using other Feed Readers XML