In the structure for meditation that St Ignatius gives in the spiritual exercises, he concludes the structure with a very unique and important part of prayer, the Colloquy. A Colloquy to me is like a conversation about what one experienced in meditation or contemplation. According to St Ignatius, a Colloquy is properly made “in the way one friend speaks to another, or a servant to one in authority – now begging a favor, now accusing oneself of some misdeed, now telling one’s concerns and asking counsel about them.” Sp. Ex. [54].
One can choose to have a Colloquy with Our Lady, or the Son, or with the Father. For me, the Colloquy is the time to get intimate with the Lord, it is the time to pour out all my feelings as they were affected during the prayer. A person can choose, either to approach the Lord as a friend and have a conversation or as a servant with a master begging for favors. Below is Colloquy is an example of a Colloquy with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Before considering the Colloquy, we can have the following composition of place from the Spiritual Exercises:
“Imagine Christ our Lord suspended on the cross before you, and converse with him in a colloquy: How is it that he, although he is the Creator, has come to make himself a human being? How is it that he has passed from eternal life to death here in time, and to die in this way for my sins? In a similar way, reflect on yourself and ask: What have I done for Christ? What am I doing for Christ? What ought I to do for Christ? In this way, too, gazing on him in so pitiful a state as he hangs on the cross, speak out whatever comes to your mind.” Sp. Ex. [53].
COLLOQUY:
The split heart of Jesus;
The pierced Heart of Jesus,
The broken Heart of Jesus.
Let my heart be split open for you today;
allow my heart to be pierced;
Let me share the experience of your broken heart Jesus.
Your heart was broken because of me Jesus;
What should I do for it to be restored my Jesus:
Show me Jesus and let me amend it, for the love of You.
Your heart Jesus, beats for two things only; for the love of God and for the love of humanity.
For these two alone did you spend Your life on earth.
Like St. John, the beloved disciple, I would like to lean my head on Your chest Jesus, to feel, to listen to the Divine Heart Beats.
Jesus, Your Heart beat faster in the garden of Gethsemane; where You were alone, even amid the presence of Your disciples.
Your Heart was deep in pain and agony at what useless a friend I am to You.
You count on me and disappoint You always.
Jesus, Your Heart sank after being betrayed by Your disciple and friend, Judas.
Your Heart melted when You were disserted and left alone. Jesus Your Heart was broken when they put You in heavy chains; when Your own disciple denied You three times; when they beat You, spat at You, undress You, nailed You to the Cross.
But Jesus, Your Heart is the source of purest love.
Today, Jesus, I deep myself in that Heart; to be hidden forever.
Turn my heart into like Yours Jesus.
Today and forever, I salute this Most Holy Heart, which took fresh in the womb of my Heavenly Queen, Mary of the Immaculate Heart.
From Novitiate Prayer Journal entry of 7th December 2018
Reuben Chifundo Nazombe SJ