www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology EastCarm: How Carmelites Pray

Dear Novice,
Once I answer, I'm sure someone much more eloquent than I will make me look foolish, but Theotokos is an ancient title used for the Mother of God. It was used by Easterners and Westerners before those pejorative terms carried the stigma they have today for some souls. Theotokos Our Lady of Mt. Carmel means God-bearer Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Theotokos is a beautiful term describing Mary as Mother of God or God-bearer. The term has particular theological significance in disputing some heresy.

Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

YOU ARE ALL WAY TO SMART FOR ME! BUT THANK YOU, I HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING ALREADY.

I am curious to find the different forms of prayer amongst our group here, I have 3 copies of the Liturgy of the Hours (1976) editions from different publishers + my cherished copy of Lauds,Vespers & Compline (1965), the Byzantine Book of Prayer is also used.

Lauds/Morning prayers from the Hours + Morning prayers from B.B.of Prayers.

Sometimes Vespers/Evening prayers (Hours) is difficult, depending on how many grandkids are here, then Compline is the norm with Byzantine evening prayers.

Of course special prayers for all family, friends & brethern are included !

james

Brother James,
I must admit I don't like to talk about personal prayer practices but in the interest of answering your question I will.

I use the 4 volume set of the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) by Catholic Book Publishing Co. from 1775.
The Hours:
Morning Prayer
Prayer during the Day (3 hours)
Evening Prayer
Readings
Night Prayer

I'm under vow to say the above and three decades of the Rosary (RC). I have a great love for the Jesus Prayer and my Chotki is in the same pocket as my rosary. One of the main charisms of the Carmelites is also the Practice of the Presence of God. I am a Carmelite. Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection has written simply and beautifully on the.

Always remember we all would like to do more. What we are able to accomplish with God's help depends greatly on are stations in life which take priority. Common sense rules. Brother Lawrence has some choice quotes on prayers we don't say or say badly.

How about you Novice? Brother Alex...how about you?

Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

I use the Byzantine Book of Prayer, the chotki, a prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and the Psalter According to the Seventy. Part of St. Seraphim's rule is to say the Jesus prayer constantly throughout the day. I wish I could say I did that through the day, but there are always distractions - like work. I am quite sure I should make time to pray more.

Dear ByzanTN
I would like to hear more about this rule.

Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Dear Abbot Michael,

St Seraphim left us four prayer rules.

His rule for laity involves saying 3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's and one Nicene Creed in the morning, at noon and before sleep.

In between, one is to say the Jesus Prayer incessantly, even when speaking with others one may say "Lord have mercy" until noon.

In the afternoon, one may say "Lord Jesus Christ, for the sake of the Mother of God, have mercy on me a sinner" until evening.

Or else one may say the Rule of the Theotokos or the 150 Hail Mary's also known as the Rosary in the West.

(The Rule of the Theotokos was also one of the four prayer rules of St Seraphim).

Another Rule St Seraphim composed was for the Nuns of Diveyevo Monastery, which is like the Lay Rule, but with additional prayers. The Nuns of Diveyevo walk around their monastery daily, sometimes singing the 150 Hail Mary's of the Rule of the Theotokos.

A fourth Rule was St Seraphim's rule for saying the Psalter. It is long and monastic and indicates the asceticism of the great Venerable Father.

I love St Seraphim and am proud to be able to wear a medallion with his miraculous Icon of Our Lady Joy of all Joys on one side with St Seraphim on the other, standing in front of his monastery with the MOther of God appearing to him in the heavens.

And also a copy of the larger Cross St Seraphim wore. Very happy to have and wear both of these!

Alex ICCBF

The prayer rule of Venerable St. Seraphim of Sarov
St. Seraphim of Sarov taught everyone the following rule of prayer:

�Let any Christian, upon arising from sleep stand before the holy icons, and read the Lord�s Prayer �Our Father� thrice, in honor of the Most-holy Trinity, then the hymn to the Theotokos �O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice�� three times as well, and finally, the Symbol of Our Faith once. Having completed this rule, let each one attend to the tasks to which he was appointed or to which he is called.

�During work at home or while traveling somewhere, let him quietly read �Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.� If there are others in his vicinity while he is working, let him silently repeat �Lord have mercy,� until supper.

�After supper, upon completing his tasks, let him quietly read �Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner,� and let him repeat this until falling asleep.

�Going to bed, let any Christian again read the above-mentioned morning rule. Thereafter, let him go to sleep, having protected himself with the sign of the Cross.� Fr. Seraphim said �Keeping this rule, it is possible, to reach Christian perfection, for the three prayers indicated are the foundation of Christianity. The first, as the payer given [to us] by Christ Himself, is the model for all prayers. The second was brought from Heaven by the Archangel to greet the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Our Lord. The Symbol [of our faith] contains in brief all of the salvific dogmas of the Christian Faith.�

To those who for whatever reason could not complete this little rule, Venerable St. Seraphim recommended reading it under whatever circumstance: during lessons, while walking, and even in bed. He based this advise on the words of the Scriptures �whosoever should call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved��

The Lord�s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Hymn to the Most-holy Theotokos
O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with Thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

The Symbol of our Faith
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father; by Whom all things were made; Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from the heavens, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; And was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; And arose again on the third day according to the Scriptures; And ascended into the heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father; And shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life; Who proceedeth from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the prophets. In One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

Dear Brother Alex,
Alex to the rescue, again! Thanks for all that information. I must study it. also, I will have to do a search for one of those medals.

Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Friend ByzanTN,
That is truely magnificient. Thank you for the information. Between you and Alex I have much to think about. And thank you for posting on this site.
Pray without ceasing....Michael ICCBF

Alex and ByzanTn -

I cannot thank you enough for publishing this simple rule of prayer. I have found my minimum rule!

Thank you very much!

Gordo

PS: Are these published anywhere that you can think of?

Well brother Michael,

Ask = ask, seek and knock, guess the prayer door opened just a bit.

I do like to share...though brother Alex and many here have alot more...just gotta nudge them abit.

james

I would advise anyone to give that little rule of St. Seraphim a chance. It will have an impact on your life.

I haven't seen printed copies, although surely they are available from somewhere. The rule is easily found on the Internet. Maybe Alex has a print source.

Dear Friends in Mt Carmel,

I did do a translation of three of the four of St Seraphim's prayer rules that are here SOMEWHERE

Also, a translation of St Seraphim Zvezdinsky's Rule of the Theotokos, which is an embellishment of St Seraphim of Sarov's rule.

Zvezdinsky grew up as an Old Believer and was later an Orthodox Bishop when he was martyred by the Soviets in 1937.

He had a series of 15 longer prayers that he recited at the beginning of each of the 15 decades of his Rule - but these are now lost.

There is a Russian language site that has all four, but I've yet to tackle the translation of the very long psalter rule of St Seraphim . . .

Alex, ICCBF