Colloquy Explained
How to Speak With Christ in Prayer: The Heart of Ignatian Contemplation
A colloquy (colloquium, "conversation") is the concluding movement of Ignatian prayer where the pray-er speaks directly and personally with Christ, Mary, the Father, or the saints—as one friend speaks to another, or a child to a parent. It is not formal recitation but intimate, spontaneous dialogue that arises from what has been contemplated.
What the Colloquy Is
Ignatius describes the colloquy with remarkable simplicity:
"The colloquy is made, properly speaking, as one friend speaks to another, or as a servant to a master, now asking for some grace, now blaming oneself for some wrong deed, now communicating one's affairs and seeking counsel about them."— St. Ignatius, Spiritual Exercises §54
Notice what Ignatius emphasizes:
- "As one friend speaks to another" — Intimacy, not formality
- "Asking for grace" — Petition rooted in need
- "Blaming oneself" — Honest confession without excuse
- "Communicating one's affairs" — Sharing what's really happening in life
- "Seeking counsel" — Asking for wisdom and direction
The colloquy is not a technique to master but a relationship to cultivate. It is the moment when contemplation becomes conversation.
Why the Colloquy Matters
Many people find it easier to think about God than to talk to Him. We can read Scripture, study theology, even practice imaginative contemplation—yet remain at a distance. The colloquy closes that distance.
From Observation to Encounter
You've seen the Gospel scene. Now you speak with the One at its center.
From General to Personal
The colloquy moves from "God loves humanity" to "Lord, do You love me?"
From Passive to Active
Rather than just receiving, you respond—with gratitude, petition, or surrender.
From Head to Heart
What you've understood becomes what you feel, desire, and choose.
Without the colloquy, Ignatian prayer risks becoming religious imagination without relationship. With it, prayer becomes what it's meant to be: communion with the living God.
How to Practice the Colloquy
The colloquy typically comes at the end of a prayer period, after you've engaged with Scripture through composition of place and sensory contemplation.
- Turn your attention directly to Christ (or Mary, the Father, the saints—depending on your prayer). You are no longer observing the scene; you are now speaking with a Person who is present.
- Speak from what has arisen. What moved you during the contemplation? What disturbed you? What do you desire? Let the conversation emerge from the prayer, not from a script.
- Use your own words. This is not the time for formal prayers (though they can conclude the colloquy). Speak simply, honestly, as you would to a trusted friend.
- Include all dimensions:
- Gratitude — "Thank You for..."
- Petition — "I need... I ask for..."
- Confession — "I'm sorry for... I struggle with..."
- Surrender — "I give You... I trust You with..."
- Questions — "Why? What do You want? Help me understand..."
- Allow silence. The colloquy is not only speaking; it includes listening. After you've shared, be still. You may sense a response—not audible words, but a movement of peace, clarity, or conviction.
- Close with a traditional prayer. Ignatius often concludes with the Our Father or another set prayer. This anchors personal conversation within the Church's prayer.
Duration: A colloquy might last two to five minutes—long enough for genuine exchange, short enough to remain focused. Quality matters more than length.
What to Say in a Colloquy
Many people feel uncertain about what to say. Here are examples of colloquy content tied to different prayer experiences:
After Contemplating Jesus' Compassion
"Lord, I saw how You looked at the blind man—with such tenderness. I want You to look at me that way. I've been avoiding Your gaze because I'm ashamed of what You'll see. But I want to be seen by You. Please look at me. Help me receive Your compassion."
After Struggling with Distraction
"Jesus, I couldn't focus today. My mind kept wandering. But I'm still here. I'm still trying. I offer You this poor attempt at prayer. Make it enough. Help me tomorrow."
After Contemplating the Cross
"Lord, what can I say? You suffered this for me. I don't understand it. I can't repay it. All I can do is say thank You—and ask that Your suffering not be wasted in my life. Change me. Make me more like You."
After Experiencing Consolation
"Father, I felt Your presence today. Peace filled me. I don't know why You gave me this gift, but I receive it with gratitude. Help me not to cling to it, but to trust You whether I feel You or not."
After Facing a Difficult Decision
"Lord, I don't know what to do. Both paths seem good—and both seem risky. I need wisdom. Show me Your will, not through signs or voices, but through the deep peace that comes when I'm aligned with You. I trust You to guide me."
The Triple Colloquy
Ignatius sometimes prescribes a "triple colloquy"—a conversation with three persons in sequence:
1. To Mary
Ask her to obtain from her Son the grace you need. End with the Hail Mary.
2. To Christ
Ask Him to obtain from the Father the grace you need. End with the Anima Christi or another Christological prayer.
3. To the Father
Ask the Father directly for the grace. End with the Our Father.
This structure is particularly used for prayers of petition or at critical moments in the Exercises. It deepens humility and expresses trust in the communion of intercession.
What the Colloquy Is NOT
- A formula to recite. The colloquy is spontaneous speech, not liturgical recitation. Use your own words.
- A technique for hearing God's voice. The colloquy is primarily about speaking, not receiving messages. If something arises in response, test it with discernment.
- Performance. You are not trying to impress God with eloquence. Stumbling honesty is more pleasing than polished rhetoric.
- Optional. The colloquy is integral to Ignatian prayer. Skipping it leaves contemplation incomplete—encounter without response.
- Therapy or self-talk. You are addressing a real Person, not processing your feelings aloud. The conversation has a Listener.
Discernment Guardrails
Because the colloquy involves speaking with God, some guardrails apply:
- Do not manufacture divine responses. If you sense something in the silence, hold it lightly. Do not assume God "said" something just because you thought it during prayer.
- Test consolation and desolation. How did the colloquy leave you? At peace? Anxious? Encouraged? Use the Rules for Discernment to interpret your experience.
- Share significant experiences. If something powerful arises in colloquy, discuss it with a spiritual director. Do not make major decisions based on interior experiences alone.
- Stay anchored in Scripture and tradition. The colloquy deepens what Scripture reveals; it does not add new revelation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don't know what to say?
Start with the simplest words: "Lord, here I am." Or begin with what you're feeling: "I'm confused... I'm grateful... I'm afraid..." Honest simplicity opens the door. The Spirit helps us pray when we don't have words (Romans 8:26).
Should I speak out loud or silently?
Either works. Some people find that speaking aloud (even quietly) helps them stay focused. Others prefer interior speech. Experiment to discover what draws you into deeper conversation.
Can I have a colloquy without the rest of the prayer?
Yes. Brief colloquies throughout the day—while commuting, working, or walking—are encouraged. They need not follow formal contemplation. The goal is ongoing conversation with Christ.
What if I feel like God isn't listening?
Feelings are not facts. God is always present and always attentive—whether we feel it or not. Continue speaking in faith. Dryness in prayer can be a sign of growth, not abandonment.
How is this different from regular prayer?
Many prayers (liturgical, devotional, memorized) are addressed to God but scripted by others. The colloquy is your own words, arising from your own experience of the contemplation you've just made. Both have value; the colloquy adds personal intimacy.
Related Articles
- Ignatian Spirituality — Overview of the Ignatian tradition.
- Composition of Place — The preparatory step before contemplation and colloquy.
- Praying with the Senses — The sensory engagement that precedes the colloquy.
- Rules for Discernment — How to interpret what arises in prayer.
- Discernment in Contemplative Practice — Essential safeguards for all contemplative prayer.