Prayer of the Whole Person

We often think of prayer as something we do mainly with words. We speak to God, recite familiar prayers, or sit silently. Yet prayer involves far more than the lips. It gathers the whole person—mind, body, emotions, attention, and desire—into the presence of God.

Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg studied experienced Franciscan nuns while they engaged in contemplative prayer through the inward repetition of a sacred phrase. Brain imaging showed changes in blood flow in areas involved in focused attention and language (Newberg et al., 2003). The study was small and preliminary, so it does not explain every experience of prayer. Still, it offers an important insight: prayer is not merely passive. The brain participates as we concentrate, remember sacred words, and direct our attention toward God.

Centuries earlier, John Cassian taught something similar from spiritual experience. Drawing upon the wisdom of the Desert Fathers, he understood prayer as more than a brief religious exercise. Our whole way of living prepares us to pray. What fills our minds, shapes our habits, and moves our hearts eventually enters our prayer.

Prayer, then, is not an escape from our humanity. It is the offering of our humanity. We bring our distracted thoughts, tired bodies, fears, gratitude, longings, and love.

Thomas of Celano said of St. Francis of Assisi that he was “not so much praying as becoming totally prayer.” Prayer had moved beyond particular words and moments. It had shaped the person he was becoming.

This is the deeper invitation: not only to say prayers, but to let prayer transform how we think, speak, work, suffer, love, and live. God invites the whole person—until, little by little, our life itself becomes prayer.

 

Notes

Cassian, J. (1997). The conferences (B. Ramsey, Trans.). Paulist Press.

Newberg, A., Pourdehnad, M., Alavi, A., & d’Aquili, E. (2003). Cerebral blood flow during meditative prayer: Preliminary findings and methodological issues. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 97(2), 625–630. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.2003.97.2.625

Thomas of Celano. (2000). The remembrance of the desire of a soul. In R. J. Armstrong, J. A. W. Hellmann, & W. J. Short (Eds.), Francis of Assisi: Early documents: Vol. 2. The founder (pp. 233–393). New City Press.

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Prayer of the Whole Person

Explore this theme in three different formats—each offering a unique way to reflect and engage:

🎥 Video: https://youtu.be/vgEnThhd-9o

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📄 Article: https://lifespring-wholeness.blogspot.com/2026/06/prayer-of-whole-person.html

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