www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology JESUS PRAYER MIRACLES?

Hello all!

I am new to this forum but i find all of you to be very well read on all subjects concering Eastern Christian Spirtuality! I am a Roman Catholic that now attends the Byzantine Catholic Church Romanian Rite because i find it to be frank more Reverant than the Roman Catholic Churches where i am now in Florida. I am sick of Folk music and Churches that look like gyms! well i was turned onto the Prayer of the heart and got myself a 100 Knot Prayer rope and Started out on learning the Jesus Prayer, I also Read the Way of the Pilgrim and orded the Philokalia Volume espschaly written on Jesus prayer "made up of all refrences in the Phiokalia on the Jesus Prayer" I look foward to reading it (if anyone read it any comments on how it was?) well I am currious are there any storys from saints or others Orthodox or Catholic "or anybody for tha tmatter" any storys of Miracles comming about from use of the Jesus Prayer? or from the Rope itself? being used as a Sacremental in healing? like in the Roman Church where the Rosary has sometimes been put on a person for healing etc.? how does the Jesus Prayer and Prayer Rope work for spirtual Warfare? Any info would be greatly appreceated!

GOD BLESS YOU

your brother in Christ Jesus!

john, a poor sinner

Slava Jesu Kristu,

The only miracles I have ever come across being performed were by the Saints who practiced the Jesus Prayer, not by the prayer itself. The miracle of the prayer itself is its ability to put us in God's presence thereby allowing us the Grace to accomplish great things. Many
Eastern Christians have prayer ropes by them in time of illness and some are buried with them, but I hesitate to ascribe to it the Western understanding of the Rosary. The Latin concept of Saramentals really doesn't apply per se. Hesychism is one of the greatest tools we have against the Enemy. Many devote their lives to its practice and only scratch the surface of its power and simplicity. Its simple form encompasses the entire Salvific teachings of our Faith. God bless you on your journey with it. I am sure others will explain better than I....

Yours in the Way,
Dmitri

Dear Byzjohn,

I would just like to add that many wear the prayer rope all of the time. It is customary to the priest bless them just as you would a roary, cross, or icon, etc. The larger rope wraps many times around your wrist, or you can get a smaller one that will fit comfortably, looks like a bracelet, and is a continual reminder of the need and action of the prayer in our lives, plus it is always available for prayer, these are worn most of the time.

Rose

thank you so much for all your help i really appreciate it! anything else you can add would be great! =) maybe you can tell me some of the Effects on the indvedual from the Jesus Prayer? Also im currious how do Eastern Catholics Show Devotion to the Mother Of God? in the West the most Famous way is through the Use of the Most Holy Rosary. Is there something like that in the East?

Dear ByzJohn,

St Gregory Palamas became a great miracle-worker through the Jesus Prayer - he recited it incessantly all week and on the weekend attended Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion.

St Jona Atamansky of Odessa was a priest who prayed the Prayer all night and cast out demons.

His presbytera or wife would often sigh when they brought someone possessed by demons to him for healing. She knew that once the demons were out of the person, they would attack their home, starting fires etc.

St Jona once prayed nine nights over the crib of a girl born blind. On the morning of the tenth day, she could see.

St Seraphim of Sarov was perhaps the greatest miracle-worker and practitioner of the Jesus Prayer. There are on-line lives of him.

Fr. Venard Poslusney, a Polish priest I believe, practiced the Jesus Prayer for several hours a day (he wrote some pamphlets on it, I believe).

He was in Church once and a voice told him to put his hand on the back of an elderly woman, which he did.

At once, she began laughing and shouting praise to God as she stood up straight.

Fr. Venard didn't know what was going on - he was later told she was healed of a curved spine right there and then.

St Herman of Alaska, another practitioner of the Jesus Prayer, couldn't get a priest to bless the water for the feast of the Epiphany.

No problem - God sent an Angel to do the job.

St Paissy Velichkovsky who wrote on the Jesus Prayer performed many miracles.

He once saw a vision of Christ during his serving of the Divine LIturgy.

He stood motionless and had to be pulled away from the altar with ropes.

He stood in a corner for about five hours, crying and praying during his vision.

The Eastern monks also say 150 Hail Mary's and usually do a prostration after each one.

St Seraphim of Sarov and St Seraphim Zvezdinsky said 15 decades with meditations daily and this is written up in the book, "Staretz Zechariah, An Early Soviet Saint" Chapter Six.

There are also Akathists which are litany-like prayers with over 144 Praises to the Mother of God, and there are many to her miracle-working icons, and Canons - also similar prayers.

YOu can find them on this page, "Orthodox Liturgical Resources" just punch this in on a search website and you'll come to Fr. Whiteford's collection.

The East honours Maryam the Mother of God copiously in its liturgical prayers. There are over 1,000 miraculous and locally venerated Icons of the Mother of God each with their own feast days. She is always shown with Her Son in the Church's icons and a frequent prayer to her is "Most Holy Mother of God, save us!"

Alex

[ 09-04-2002: Message edited by: Orthodox Catholic ]

hey Brother alex? i couldent find much on-line about St Seraphim of Sarov but from what i read he seemed very much like the Roman Saint Padre Pio! the part about him Reading souls. also like St John Viannie! i would like to read more about him on-line but i couldent find much? do you have a good source?

God bless sorry to bother you again

john

hey Alex,

I was waiting for you to chime in on this one, I figured it would be good.

I have shared a story on here before, but it was so long ago, I hope you don't mind my repeating it.
Once a young man of 17, now the father of 7 children of his own, was watching his nephews one day in 1986. Chris had always been devoted to the Jesus Prayer as a young man, this was just over 16 years ago now. He was faithful in 100's of repetitions a day. His youngest nephews were twins and one had been ill for quite a while. This day they had laid down for their naps, he kept check on them, and they were resting well. Suddenly the one came out and asked Uncle Chris to come in something was wrong with his brother. When he did, he found the child not breathing. He picked him up and tried to revive him, to no avail. As he stood there holding his nephew+, of 18 months of age, the Spirit cried out the Jesus Prayer within. He stood there crying totally helpless and called the ambulence. But it was Jesus praying inside him, that gave him the peace and presence of mind to know what to do.
While the tears were falling and he was consoling the other nephew.

I believe this is the example that the Staret speaks of "The Way of the Pilgram." The prayers so reside within his being at the most difficult and challangeing of times it will take over and pray for and through us. As Jesus Himself becomes part of our very being so does "The Name Of Jesus Who is Above All Names" work wonders within us. After all His Word says that at the Name of Jesus every head must bow, and knee must bend, and we cannot do anything unless it is done in His Name.

Rose

I've never had a miracle while praying the Jesus Prayer but often i feel when praying that the words are being wishpered by someone else.

Byzjohn, I can understand your enthusiasim as I too left the Latin Church for the Byzantine Church a little over a year ago. Could you ever have imagined such a beautiful Liturgy!!!!!

Regarding The Jesus Prayer, take a look at
http://www.monachos.net/monasticism/jesus_prayer.shtml You'll find a lot of discussion there on this topic.

Loretta

Thanks for the site