Pray for the Grace
At the beginning of each prayer period, Ignatius advises that we pray for a certain grace, or gift from God: "ask God our Lord for what I want and desire" (SE 48). Simply naming what we deeply desire opens us to receive the gift God wants to give us. Moreover, praying for a grace helps us to notice when we actually receive that gift later on. In this way, we realize that the grace is not of our own making but is the result of God's generosity to us. Finally, praying out of our desires grounds us in the present, keeping our prayer "real."
Throughout the retreat, Ignatius suggests specific graces to pray for. Always feel free to articulate a different grace or to use different words if the Spirit is moving you in that direction. Imagine God asking you, "What do you want me to do for you?"
Some graces are hard to ask for. For example, in all honesty, you may resist asking to let go of a preoccupation or way of thinking or acting that is comfortable for you. Or you may hesitate in asking to be placed with Christ, carrying the cross. Such resistance is understandable. If you find yourself resisting a suggested grace, then pray not for the grace itself but for a desire to want the grace. For example, "Lord, I'm really having a hard time asking to walk with you by living a more simple life; for now, give me the desire to want to do that." Although grace is revealed in the particular gifts God gives you, grace above all is God's presence in your life. The Giver is the gift! (Kevin O’Brien, The Ignatian Adventure)
