“Everything Begins in Prayer”: A Qualitative Study of Contemplative Prayer and Associated Perceptions of God’s Where-Being Among Polish Catholics

Contemplative prayer practices among Polish Catholics, both charismatic and non-charismatic, shape and are shaped by how they represent God's presence—as transcendent, immanent, close, all-permeating, indwelling, or sacramental. Although participants rarely used the term 'contemplation,' their practices, including breath prayer and attention to posture, aligned with Catholic teachings on contemplative prayer. The research suggests a reciprocal relationship between God representations and prayer practices, with implications for theology, psychology, and caregiving.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article explores contemplative prayer and God representations in Polish Catholics, both charismatic and non-charismatic practitioners. Drawing on dedicated interviews and publicly available data, the study investigates the representations of God’s where-being, particularly in terms of transcendence and immanence (close, all-permeating, indwelling and sacramental aspects), and their relation to contemplative practices. Grounded in the four voices model of practical theology and employing a contemplative qualitative methodology, the research used thematic analysis to discover how participants’ prayer practices and experiences reflect and reshape theological understanding. Although participants rarely used the term ‘contemplation,’ their practices often aligned with Catholic teachings on contemplative prayer, with a shift toward monological and body-based forms such as breath prayer and attention to posture. The findings suggest a reciprocal relationship between God representations and prayer practices, and offer implications for theology, psychology, and caregiving.