Contemplation is the highest form of prayer. You approach it in silence as an active prayer from you in your mind. If you are deserving (as St John of the Cross and St Teresa of Avila teaches) and you have entered the dark night, this turns into passive prayer in which the Holy Spirit prays for you "in groaning" and you are still a participant remaining in silence.
On Jan 7, 2020 Benjy Nepomuceno, OCDS wrote :