Contemplation in Action

The Ignatian Way: Finding God in All Things

Ignatius of Loyola developed what may be the most systematic approach to contemplation in action. His ideal was not the enclosed monk but the apostle who moves through the world with interior freedom, finding God everywhere.

Key Ignatian practices for integration include:

• The Examen: A twice-daily review of where God was present in ordinary events
• Finding consolation in work: Noticing when activities bring life and energy
• Brief elevations: Short prayer-pauses throughout the day
• Seeing Christ in others: Approaching people as encounters with the divine

The Ignatian contemplative does not separate sacred and secular. Every moment, every encounter, every task becomes potential material for meeting God. Work done with this awareness becomes prayer.

The Carmelite Way: The Practice of the Presence

Brother Lawrence, the 17th-century Carmelite lay brother, left the most famous account of contemplation in action. Working in the monastery kitchen, he developed what he called "the practice of the presence of God."

His method was deceptively simple:

• Constantly recall God's presence
• Perform every action for love of God, no matter how small
• When awareness fades, gently return without anxiety
• Make no distinction between prayer time and other times

Brother Lawrence reported that after years of practice, the awareness of God became constant—whether he was praying in the chapel or washing dishes. The practice was not about achieving special states but about simple, persistent attention.

The Hesychast Way: Unceasing Prayer

The hesychast tradition takes literally Paul's injunction to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The Jesus Prayer becomes the vehicle for continuous prayer—practiced not only in formal prayer times but throughout all activities.

The stages of integration:

• Verbal prayer: Saying the prayer consciously during activities
• Mental prayer: The prayer continuing inwardly without words
• Prayer of the heart: The prayer arising spontaneously, synchronizing with heartbeat and breath
• Unceasing prayer: The prayer continuing even during sleep

The Russian classic The Way of a Pilgrim describes a peasant who, through persistent practice, reaches the point where the Jesus Prayer accompanies him through every moment. Work, rest, conversation, even sleep—all are permeated by the prayer.

1. Transition Moments

Use natural transitions—beginning work, entering a room, picking up the phone, waiting for something—as triggers for brief recollection. These micro-pauses accumulate throughout the day, building a bridge between formal prayer and continuous awareness.

2. The Prayer Word

Choose a single word—"Jesus," "Lord," "Father," "Mercy"—and let it accompany you through activities. This is a simplified form of the Jesus Prayer, suited to busy environments. The word becomes an anchor, calling attention back to God whenever it arises in consciousness.

3. Sanctifying Ordinary Tasks

Approach routine tasks—cooking, cleaning, commuting—as opportunities for prayer. Offer the task to God at its beginning. Remain attentive to His presence while doing it. Thank Him at its completion. The task itself becomes prayer.

4. Seeing Christ in Others

Practice approaching each person as if approaching Christ. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). This transforms every interaction into a potential encounter with the divine and brings contemplative awareness into relationships.

5. The Evening Review

At day's end, review where God was present—in events, in people, in your own responses. Where did you sense His presence? Where did you miss it? This Ignatian practice trains the awareness to recognize God more readily throughout subsequent days.

6. Brief Returns to Stillness

When possible, take moments during the day to return briefly to the stillness of formal prayer—even for a few breaths. These "mini-retreats" refresh the contemplative awareness and bridge the gap between morning prayer and evening.

Distraction and Forgetting

The most common challenge is simply forgetting to maintain awareness. Hours pass without a single thought of God. The solution is patience and persistence. Brother Lawrence spent years establishing the practice. When you notice you have forgotten, simply return without self-reproach. The noticing itself is a grace.

The Tension of Demanding Work

Some work requires such focused concentration that divided attention seems impossible. Here the solution is not forcing awareness during the task but offering the task beforehand and returning to awareness when attention can be released. Integration does not mean constant conscious attention to God, but a background orientation that returns whenever attention is free.

Anxiety and Self-Judgment

Some practitioners become anxious about maintaining awareness, turning contemplation in action into a burden rather than a gift. This defeats the purpose. The practice should be gentle, not driven. Brother Lawrence emphasized that when we fail, we should return to God simply, without anxiety or excessive self-accusation. Grace does the work; we simply cooperate.

Spiritual Bypass

There is a danger of using "practice of presence" to avoid fully engaging with difficulties—relationships that need attention, emotions that need processing, problems that require action. True contemplation in action enhances engagement with life; it does not substitute for it. If the practice is leading to withdrawal from legitimate responsibilities, something is wrong.

Inner Peace Amid Activity

A baseline of peace that persists even in busy or difficult circumstances. Not the elimination of stress, but an underlying stillness that is not disturbed by surface turbulence. The practitioner works hard but is not driven; engages fully but is not consumed.

Greater Presence to Others

Paradoxically, attention to God increases attention to people. The contemplative becomes more present, not less—more attuned to what others need, more able to listen, more capable of genuine encounter. The awareness of God opens awareness of everything.

Work as Offering

Tasks that once felt meaningless take on significance as offerings to God. The quality of work often improves because it is done with care and attention. Even mundane activities become meaningful when performed in God's presence.

Lessening of Ego

Continuous awareness of God tends to reduce self-preoccupation. The ego, constantly reminded that it is not the center, gradually loosens its grip. This brings freedom from the endless cycle of self-evaluation and comparison that usually dominates consciousness.

Recognition of Providence

The practitioner increasingly recognizes God's presence and action in ordinary events. Coincidences are seen as providential. Difficulties are received as occasions for growth. The day becomes readable as a text of divine communication.

How long does it take to develop contemplation in action?

Brother Lawrence reported that it took him about ten years of persistent practice before the awareness of God became more or less constant. Others experience progress more quickly or more slowly. The key is persistence over time, not immediate results. Every return to awareness, however brief, strengthens the practice.

Is this the same as mindfulness meditation?

There are similarities—both involve bringing awareness to present-moment experience. But the Christian practice differs fundamentally in its object: awareness of God, not merely of the present moment. The goal is not bare attention but communion. The practice is relational, not merely observational. It is directed to a Person, not to phenomena.

Can I practice this without a regular formal prayer time?

No—at least not effectively. All the masters agree that formal prayer is the source from which contemplation in action flows. Attempting continuous awareness without the anchor of dedicated prayer times produces either frustration or illusion. The rhythm of withdrawal and return is essential.

What if my work involves constant interaction with people?

This actually provides rich material for the practice. Each person becomes an opportunity to see Christ. Brief pauses between interactions become moments for recollection. The practice of presence can be maintained silently while engaging with others—in fact, it often improves the quality of engagement.

How is this different from "practicing the presence of God"?

"Practicing the presence of God" is one specific approach to contemplation in action, developed by Brother Lawrence. Contemplation in action is the broader concept, encompassing the Ignatian and hesychast approaches as well. All share the goal of integrating awareness of God with daily activity; they differ in their specific methods and emphases.