God formed man out of earth and breathed life- giving breath into his nostrils.” (Genesis 2:7) Jesus breathed and said, receive the Holy Spirit (John. 20:22) the breath that we breathe in is the breath of God and His spirit.

Emptying our body from all the stresses of life for us to be taught by God’s Spirit begins with our recognising how important breath is when we pray.

When we focus on our breath in prayer we realise that there is nothing on earth that belongs to us.

My breath is from God and my body is his temple and I am totally dependent on them for life. All our ambitions and achievements crumble when we return to the source of who I am.

God is hidden in our breath, heart beats, and sensations of our body and continually invites us to become aware and conscious of his presence within us.

Learning how to breathe in prayer is very important. It helps us to quieten the thoughts, disciplines the mind to perceive the presence of God and to hear the interior voice of the Holy Spirit.

Learning how to breathe in prayer is a simple exercise of focussing on our breath and counting. But remember when you breathe in to expand your abdomen (stomach should come out like a balloon). When you breathe out don’t forget to contract your abdomen (stomach must move inward). Do not move your shoulder nor your chest while breathing.

Prayer Exercise:

Take up a comfortable sitting posture, close your eyes gently and bring your attention to your breath. Breathe slowly and deeply…………………………. Listen to the sound of breath………………………………………………….. As you inhale your breath begin counting …………….

1. Breathe in, mentally counting up to four seconds, and breathe out, counting four……………

2. Breathe in: 1, 2, 3, 4………

3. Breathe out : 1, 2, 3, 4,

4. Now focus on your breath…………….

5. Breathe in to the count of four gently……………..

6. Breathe out to the count of four gently……………..

7. Breathe in the divine power of God to the count of four…………

8. Breathe out all the impurities of your body to the count of four…………

9. Breathe in the divine love of Jesus to the count of four……….

10. Breathe out all the impurities of your soul to the count of four………..

11. Breathe in the divine healing of the Holy Spirit to the count of four………..

12. Breathe out all the impurities of your spirit to the count of four ………..

13. Breathe in the name of Jesus to the count of four ……………

14. Breathe out to the words I surrender all to the count of four……..

15. Now focus on the crown of your head and breathe in the name of Jesus to the count of four………..

16. Breathe out the words I surrender all to the count of four………………

17. Focus on your forehead and breath in the name of Jesus to the count of four ……………

18. Breathe out the words I surrender all to the count of four…………..

19. Now focus on your throat or neck and breath in the name of Jesus to the count of four………………

20. Breathe out I surrender all to the count of four…………….

21. Now focus on your chest and heart and breathe in Jesus to the count of four ..

22. Breathe out I surrender all to the count of four…………….

23. Now focus on your chest and heart and breathe in the name of Jesus to the count of four………

24. Breathe out I surrender all to the count of four…………….

25. Now focus on your abdomen and breathe in the name of Jesus to the count of four…………..

26. Breathe out I surrender all to the count of four…………….

27. Now focus on your spine and shoulders and breathe in the name of Jesus to the count of four………..

28. Breathe out I surrender all to the count of four…………….

29. Now focus on your arms and fingers and breathe in the name of Jesus to the count of four………..

30. Breathe out I surrender all to the count of four…………….

31. Now focus on your legs and toes and breathe in the name of Jesus to the count of four……..

32. Breathe out I surrender all to the count of four…………….

33. As you breathe in this time imagine Jesus entering you and making his home in your heart……..

34. As you breathe out to the count of four allow Jesus to mentally wash your memory understanding and will in his precious blood……

35. Breathe in to the count of four and experience the transfiguration of Jesus’ light penetrating you and blessing you with his poverty of spirit

36. Breathe out to the count of four and rest in this dazzling light

Continue breathing in and out to the count of four for the next few minutes as you allow yourself to be absorbed into the light……………………….

Prayer Comment:

The breathing exercise has been adapted from a book called Meditation on Jesus for Healingand Joyful Living by Fr. Gilbert Carlo SVD. (Printed by St. Paul Press Training School, Bandra Mumbi 400050 India.)

I recommend the purchase of this book and the cd prayer exercises for those who wish to pursue further meditation through breathing exercises.