This exercise of faith is in darkness. There is little rational content. It is a commerce with the mystery, an exercise of faith. What is essential is the passive attitude in relation to God. When God is touched by faith, he gives himself to us.
Contemplative prayer is always supernatural.
We can draw an image of the understanding of contemplative prayer. The emotions and the senses can dispose us toward acts of faith, but in themselves they cannot touch God. But apart from the emotions, we have our intellect. This too cannot touch God. When we reflect on God, we do not reach God but only those concepts which surround God.