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Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen!

When I attended CCD as a child and young adult in the Roman Catholic faith, I never recalled any conversations regarding interior praying, i.e. The Jesus Prayer.

Is this still the same, or has the curriculum been amended to include this type of prayer?

I have been rereading 'The Way of a Pilgrim', and it is a simple, yet intense and beautiful book. It makes me realize how truly sinful I am, but also grants me the knowledge that I can change, and be forgiven! Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

In Christ,

Michael

Michael, Christ is Risen!

Interior prayer, prayer of the heart, or the Jesus prayer from my point of view can not be taught and placed into practice by a textbook. For all that use it, the book should be for informational purposes only, and the guidance of a good spiritual father/diector is needed to bring one along the way and to guide their progress. Otherwise the person putting it into practice may not properly develop the essence of the prayer rule.

I hope this helps you.

In the Risen Christ,
Father Anthony+

Michael, Christ is Risen!

I have been thinking about the subject more since I last posted. What I personally think needs to be addressed on more before a focus on interior prayer can be stressed is having ourselves and our youth develop a rule and discipline of prayer. Before anyone goes off, please follow my rationale for I am not stating that anyone here is without a prayer rule.

In my encounters with youth at retreats and other functions, I find many are missing the discipline of prayer in their lives and have not the foggiest notion what a prayer rule is. Yes, they attend church regularly, youth groups and even church school. I see that prayer if it is being taught in church school is not being brought back into the life of the family and in the home. There seems to be no reinforcement along the lines of a prayer life and how it is helpful daily in one's life.

If we look at the parishes, we see many passive individuals and families. Why, my guess is they are not engaged because of that absence of prayer in their daily lives. To them it is more of an obligation than a part of their lives as Christians.

This is not just an Eastern or Byzantine thing, but is more across the board if we really reflect on it. Our lives have become so busy, that for most their time with God in prayer has been crowded out. We lament about declining numbers, poor liturgics and translations, and even poor liturgical art. Most times this comes because most are not praying. What we need to really do is to reinvigorate our churches and spiritual lives by truly learning to pray, not just on occasion but as much as possible. We need to teach not only ourselves about this important virtue, but also the youth that will follow us. If we don't, then all we will have in a generation or so is monuments to what was.

Our faith is based on a number of things, but the foundation has always been prayer. I commend all that read about prayer, but the time is that we need to start teaching it and putting it into practice. Then perhaps many of the things we discuss here daily can come to a quick resolution because many will be united in supplication before the Lord.

I close this post with the words of Saint Paul, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

I'll get off my soap box or pulpit now.

In the Risen Christ,
Father Anthony+

Dear Father Anthony,

Bless, please.

Thank you for your responses. I agree wholeheartedly with your philosophy. Prayer is so simple, and yet can become such a challenge through the efforts of the evil one.

I need to clarify my original question, I believe.

In our parish, during the sermon/homily, especially during the Sunday of the Prodigal Son and the Lenten season, our presbyter reiterates the importance of the Jesus Prayer, and that as a practicing Byzantine, we should embrace this simple, but profound prayer. He repeats this message many times during the year.

However, I have never heard a priest discuss the Jesus Prayer from the pulpit when I attended my original Roman parish in Ohio or later the Roman parish down here in Florida. The Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be were discussed at various times, most especially in CCD classes, but never can I recall the Jesus Prayer being discussed.

I believe this could be an opportunity for the Roman Rite Church to witness the simple, but beautiful truths of the Eastern Church.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!

although I prefer 'Son of the Living God'

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!

Michael

Michael,

Ther are many variations of the wording of the prayer. If it helps one in their focus towards God and is not heretical, use it.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Dear Michael,

I have heard the celebrating priests on EWTN mention the Jesus Prayer in their liturgical homilies.

In Christ,
Alice

Dear Alice,

Thank you for that bit of information. I really will need to watch EWTN more often now.

Times are changing for the better.

In Christ,

Michael

Michael,
When I was (briefly) a Carmelite Novice in Australia in 1973 we were introduced to the "Jesus prayer" and invited to use it in our spiritual development.

Prayers have absolutely no power at all. By personal experience I can affirm that... We all keep praying for Church unity yet I still see the Orthodox in schism with the Holy Catholic Church.
We all keep praying for the poor to be fed, but we all know there will still be poor in the world.

Hey, I've done more with actions than all of us have done with prayers to help people.

Armando,

If you feel prayers have no power at all, and go unanswered, then why....

I don't know what to say. Then why go to church at all? Why ask God for His Mercy and forgiveness? Why go to Communion? Why do anything remotely spiritual.

Do not fall into despair; it can happen very easily. It can leave an open door to all things that are not holy... I think you know what I mean....

Why pray? Well, look at the Saints, the Apostles, the Holy Fathers, the Mother of God, the Angels, and yes, even Jesus-- they all prayed.

As for the Schism... my answer to that would be that ultimately, we are humans. We are sinners. We are tangible, but God was, is, and will be. That will never change.

Armando, I hope what you posted was out of despair and emotion, and not a real personal conviction. Are you looking for attention and reactions?

I know you did not mean what you said.

-uc

And your Avatar isn't the most tasteful one I have seen. This is a Christian board, not a gothic or D&D board.

If you wanted a reaction for putting it there, then you just got it.

Why not have an Icon of the Ressurection, where it depicts Christ conquering death, instead of your picture of the Grim Reaper??

Armando, please, for your own sake.

The avatar has really a deeper meaning. I feel dead. A lost soul that travels among the living, looking for company to fight her isolation. Just like a soul cannot be seen, so I am ignored by others. Also it states that I do not believe Christ intends to save me. For some reason I still don't know, He ignores me just as everyone else on this world does. I might have commited a mortal sin without knowing it but I really doubt that a 17 year old had the chance to commit a mortal sin in his life.

Why not become a living soul, traveling among the lost? Have you gone over to read St. Symeon's Hymn No. 30 from his Hymns of Love?

What makes you think you will be given great mercy when you won't even offer a little mercy to yourself, and much less to those here who would worry about you threatening suicide when there is no way for most here to reach out and catch you should you catch your foot upon the stone? Where is your mercy for those lost invisible souls who cry for you?

Eli

Armando,

Do you know of St. Francis De Sales?

The idea that prayer is not powerful comes from the Evil One himself. In prayer we are to praise the Lord with thanksgiving and place before Him our needs. Then we must trust that He will grant us what is beneficial for us. Many times our petitions are not for what He wants for us.

�[P]ray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.� (James 5:16-18 ESV)