We meditate or contemplate for at least half an hour daily. Some of us do this in the Chapel before the Tabernacle. This prayer is an effort to come to know and love God. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we try to follow the ancient advice of the desert fathers to rid the mind of all distractions – everything that is not God – and focus on Him alone. This can be a real battle. To help focus the mind, it is helpful to meditate on a holy word or verse: "God, come to my assistance; Lord, make haste to help me" (Psalm 70:1) or "Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:13) In this way, we humble ourselves before God and acknowledge our utter dependence on Him.
