Preparation
(i) Act of Presence of God. "Nigh art Thou, O Lord . . . and all my ways are ever in Thy sight."
(ii) Act of Adoration. Thou art great, I am nothing; Thou art good, I am sinful; Thou art light, I am darkness. . . .
(iii) Petition for Light. Give me light to see Thy holy Will and grace to do it. . . . Wisdom of the Sacred Head of Jesus, direct me in all my ways. . . . Light of the Sacred Countenance of Jesus, shine down upon me. . . . Love of the Sacred Heart, consume me in Thy fire.
Hail Mary, etc., Saint Joseph, my Angel Guardian, my Patron Saints, pray for me. . . .
Meditation
Read the first point, or until a thought comes to you that is in some way striking. Then in your own way talk to God. Saint Teresa continued to use the same book for meditation for eighteen years.
Affections - Faith, Gratitude, Humility, Hope, Love, Sorrow for sin.
Prayers - Light, Humility (or some other virtue suggested by your meditation), Love of God, Perseverance, etc.
Resolutions - To develop virtues, avoid occasions, overcome defects, bear vexations, etc.
and so continue for each point that you consider.
But it must always be borne in mind that the object of the meditator should be not to get through the whole page but to pray; hence stop reading as soon as you have enough to go on with. Continue to pray as long as you find yourself in touch with God. Then:
Conclusion
(i) Thank God for light bestowed.
(ii) Resolve to keep the resolutions.
(iii) Ask God for the love of Jesus to keep you away from occasions of sin. Say a Pater and Ave for souls in Purgatory, sinners, friends, relations, the Church, etc.
- text taken from Meditations for Layfolk by Father Bede Jarrett, O.P.