CONTEMPLATIVE
PRAYER
To help you understand the types of prayer, these sites are
useful:
The first link below contains CHURCH
FATHERS, the writings of the earliest fathers and saints of the Church from the
first, second, third centuries, including St. Augustine and St. Thomas
Aquinas:
LINK: CATHOLIC
UNDERSTANDINGS OF PRAYER
LINK: SPIRITUAL DIRECTION IN PRAYER
LINK: KINDS OF PRAYER -- VATICAN
ARCHIVES
LINK: WARNING ABOUT THE "CENTERING PRAYER"
MOVEMENT
Another good article explaining why Centering Prayer can be
dangerous: http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/dissent/centerprayer.htm
DOCTORS OF THE
CHURCH:
ST. TERESA OF AVILA
ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
If you would like to do more reading on
contemplative prayer, turn to the classics of the church. St. Teresa of Avila,
a discalced Carmelite in Spain who reformed her order during the Spanish
Inquisition, wrote to her beloved sisters of entering the "Interior Castle"
where they could enter in union with the King of Kings. You can find the entire
text on line at this site:
LINK: ST.
TERESA OF AVILA: INTERIOR CASTLE
St. John of the Cross who assisted St. Teresa,
serving as the first novice master of her reformed order, also wrote classics
illustrating the many stages of interior prayer: The Ascent of Mt. Carmel,
The Living Flanme of Love, Spiritual Canticle, and The Dark
Night of the Soul, among them. If you are advanced in prayer, you may find
some of his writings helpful. Find the text and explanation of his highly
mystical verses on this site:
LINK: ST. JOHN OF
THE CROSS: THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL
Both of these classics can also be found in their entirety in
the CATHOLIC TREASURY (the link can be found higher up on this same
page).
LINK: NUMEROUS PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS -- SELECT
I just discovered this great Catholic blog. You might want to
go there: THE SAINTHOOD PROJECT
http://livingchrist.webs.com/jesusprayer.htm
Oración , Preghiera , Priére , Prayer , Gebet , Oratio, Oração de Jesus
quarta-feira, 27 de março de 2013
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PRAYING THE JESUS PRAYER?
The
Jesus Prayer
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of
God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
-- This ancient prayer is nearly as old as the church itself. Originating in the Eastern orthodox church, being very popular in Russia, the Jesus prayer can enable you to deepen your prayer life . The first website is absolutely wonderful. You'll find there much spiritual direction and great teachings from the Desert Fathers, early saints of the Church, practical suggestions, warnings, etc. This site may be just what you need to make significant spiritual progress. Keep in mind that any spiritual progress at all requires fidelity to the Sacraments and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Eucharist, as well. If you are not a catholic, you will be happy to know that many Christians (Protestants or non-Catholics) rely on the Jesus Prayer for a deep prayer life.
THE JESUS PRAYER – PART 1
THE JESUS PRAYER – PART 2
THE JESUS PRAYER – PART 3
LINK: UNDERSTANDING THE JESUS PRAYER
LINK: SAYING THE JESUS PRAYER
LINK: ORTHODOX SITE -- Be sure to check out the recommended links at the bottom of the page.
For a wonderful video about CUSTODY OF THE HEART, a practice of early Christianity, especially of the Fathers of the Desert, see these links (the talk is divided into 10 minute segments):
JESUS PRAYER – WATCHFULNESS OR WAKEFULNESS 1/6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5mUxdYB8nM&feature=related
JESUS PRAYER – WATCHFULNESS OR WAKEFULNESS 2/6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJB6Ga6CB4k
JESUS PRAYER – WATCHFULNESS OR WAKEFULNESS 3/6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAszq4-XTDg
JESUS PRAYER – WATCHFULNESS OR WAKEFULNESS 4/6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPLdI7tr-nU
JESUS PRAYER – WATCHFULNESS OR WAKEFULNESS 5/6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsLVIN-q6SM
RECOMMENDED BOOK: The Way of a Pilgrim is a classic but anonymous work of Russian spirituality (a.k.a "the Way of the Pilgrim") which has charmed countless readers with its tale of a nineteenth-century peasant seeking the truth with simple humility, finding joy in the practice of the "Jesus Prayer." This repetitive prayer, traditional in the Christian East, centers on the holy name of Jesus and enables the pilgrim to fulfill the seemingly impossible command of St. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray always."
This book is at once both entertaining and edifying. Anyone who has ever appreciated the word of Dostoevsky or Tolstoy will be delighted with the vision of 19th century Russia that emerges from this book. Yet at the same time, the very practical teaching on the Jesus prayer is very much able to be appropriated by those living a very different lifestyle in a much more hectic, even frantic age. Don't miss this classic! It should be read at least once by any serious Christian, Eastern or Western, Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox. Guaranteed to refresh you and deepen your relationship with God if you make the least attempt to put some of its simple yet profound teaching into practice.
LINK: ARTICLE: WAY OF A PILGRIM
RECOMMENDED BOOK: Prayer of the Heart, by George A. Maloney S.J.
In this comprehensive guide to Christian contemplative prayer, Fr. George Maloney, S.J. a leading exponent of the Eastern Christian spiritual tradition in the decades after Vatican II, opens up this tradition of prayer--in particular the Jesus Prayer of the Eastern Church--to Western Christians in a clear and practical manner. Unmatched as a readable and complete guide to Eastern Christian spirituality during its fifteen-year history of publication, it fills a void in the spirituality market for today's readers as well.
About the Author: Father George A. Maloney, SJ, was well-known in Roman Catholic and Russian Byzantine Rite circles for his many works on prayer and spirituality. In his life he wrote some 80 books, journal and popular articles on theology, prayer, and Eastern Christian spirituality. This new edition of Prayer of the Heart is being re-printed by Ave Maria Press after being out of print for many years. Fr Maloney died in 2005.
Review of this book - " It is truly a wonderful thing to see the re-issuing of Fr. George Maloney's classic study, Prayer of the Heart. This is a ground-breaking book whose appearance first introduced a generation of Catholic (Western) readers to the riches of the Orthodox (Eastern) spirituality of the Jesus Prayer. Its second edition will teach many more about the ancient church's tradition of Jesus-centered mysticism, and the princihttp://livingchrist.webs.com/jesusprayer.htmples of a peaceful and devoted spiritual life that can be followed not merely in the monastery, but in the day-to-day business of our hectic lives."
The Jesus Prayer
The Jesus Prayer
The classical form of the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."Fr. John Corapi recently talked about how this prayer is a wonderful prayer to say during our day. I completely agree. Please realize that the actual words of our short prayers can vary. Some versions will say, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me" while others say, "Lord Jesus, have mercy." Monks of old said, "Lord, make haste to help me. Lord, make speed to save me," throughout their entire day.
The Jesus Prayer originates in the early sixth century, with Diadochos, who taught that repetition of the prayer leads to inner stillness. Even earlier John Cassian recommended this type of prayer. In the fourth century Egypt short "arrow" prayers were practiced.
Realize that this prayer, repeated throughout the day, is a very pious action. It does not go against Our Lord's command not to pray in "vain repetition" because Jesus' emphasis is on "vain" prayers, not on the fact they are repeated often. Jesus himself taught us the Our Father for us to repeat just two lines after Matthew 6:7! The important thing is that we must raise our hearts and minds to God (CCC 2559). That is prayer!
Abba Macarius of Egypt said there is no need to waste time with words. It is enough to hold out your hands and say, "Lord, according to your desire and your wisdom, have mercy." If pressed in the struggle, say, "Lord, save me!" or simply, " Lord." He knows what is best for us, and will have mercy upon us. St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach always, when necessary use words."
Fr. John Corapi said that if we can't concentrate on prayer because we are in pain or dying , just say the name of "Jesus".
source
The Jesus Prayer
More
I am now going to tell you about the shortest, simplest, and most powerful prayer in the world.
It is called the “Jesus Prayer”, and it consists simply in uttering the single word “Jesus” (or “Lord Jesus”, or “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner”) in any situation, at any time and place, either aloud or silently.
There is only one prerequisite, one presupposition: that you are a Christian. If you have faith in Christ, hope in Christ, and love of Christ, you can pray the most powerful prayer in the world, because you have real contact with the greatest power in the universe: Christ himself, who assured us, in his last words to his apostles, that “All authority in heaven and ... read
Christ the Consolator by Bloch
It is called the “Jesus Prayer”, and it consists simply in uttering the single word “Jesus” (or “Lord Jesus”, or “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner”) in any situation, at any time and place, either aloud or silently.
There is only one prerequisite, one presupposition: that you are a Christian. If you have faith in Christ, hope in Christ, and love of Christ, you can pray the most powerful prayer in the world, because you have real contact with the greatest power in the universe: Christ himself, who assured us, in his last words to his apostles, that “All authority in heaven and ... read
Excerpts from The Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer
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