Sacred Silence to hear His Voice.
Silent Adoration, seeking Him “whom my soul loves” (Song of Songs 1:7). Communion with Him.
A Divine Gift.
Silent love. Abiding. Surrendering. Inebriating.

The above phrases, incomplete sentences, are to portray the inadequacies of our own words to describe the Presence of God in contemplatio (contemplation). However, we can look to an example in Scripture, God’s own words to show the power of His Word and Presence. Here, we can imitate Elijah in order to hear that still, small voice of God as seen in 1 Kings 19:11-13:

“And he [the word of the LORD] said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Eli′jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.“

1 Kings 19:11-13

Here are also some beautiful paragraphs, describing contemplation, found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):

What is contemplative prayer? St. Teresa answers: “Contemplative prayer [oracion mental] in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.”

CCC 2709

Contemplative prayer is silence, the “symbol of the world to come” or “silent love.” Words in this kind of prayer are not speeches; they are like kindling that feeds the fire of love. In this silence, unbearable to the “outer” man, the Father speaks to us his incarnate Word, who suffered, died, and rose; in this silence the Spirit of adoption enables us to share in the prayer of Jesus. 

CCC 2717

Contemplative prayer is a union with the prayer of Christ insofar as it makes us participate in his mystery. The mystery of Christ is celebrated by the Church in the Eucharist, and the Holy Spirit makes it come alive in contemplative prayer so that our charity will manifest it in our acts.

CCC 2718

Contemplative prayer is the simple expression of the mystery of prayer. It is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, an attentiveness to the Word of God, a silent love. It achieves real union with the prayer of Christ to the extent that it makes us share in his mystery.

CCC 2724

“I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of God.”
~ St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Next Step: Operatio/Actio/Resolutio