www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings Force yourself to pray--St. Ambrose of Optina

A decade ago I offered these reflections in the parish newsletter. Then--as now--I often must "force" myself to do those things which shall be beneficial to body and soul:

In October of last year I began a prescribed program of intense physical training under the wise and watchful eye of a trainer as part of my recovery from the knee dislocation suffered last April. Having neglected regular and deliberate exercise for too many years, I was shocked to discover just how out of shape and weakened I had allowed my body to become.

The physical training sessions have taught me many lessons. First, exercise is a discipline that must be regular--at fixed times and intervals maintained as conscientiously as any appointment--not just “when I can fit it in”. The manufacturers of home exercise equipment predict that most equipment purchased is used for about three weeks, then sits untouched month after month. Establishing and maintaining a routine--as fixed as any daily household or work chore--is essential.

Second, training with a partner is an absolute necessity. The partner is needed for safety in handling large weights and beneficial for ensuring that proper form is used so that one obtains the maximum benefit of the exercise. And the partner is also needed for encouragement, for that psychological boost to do more than one feels capable of doing.

Third, rest between exercise sets is an essential part of the regimen. In fact, rest and recovery times may equal or actually exceed the time of the exercise to allow the muscles to be purged of lactic acid, replenished with oxygen, and recovered for more work.

Fourth, variety in a program of exercise is important. Not only do muscles adapt quickly to repeated routines, but one can easily become bored by a program that never changes.

I have found through these lessons of an exercise regimen great parallels to Christian life in general and to the, Lenten Disciplines in particular. The disciplines of Lent are announced each Ash Wednesday: Fasting, Almsgiving, and Prayer. These are explained by Jesus in the Gospel heard that day from the Sermon on the Mount

Regularly praying at a definite time or times is a necessity. This intentional, deliberate effort. especially when in phase with the Canonical hours keeps us in closer communion with the whole Church. We are then not praying alone--even if we are by ourselves. Like exercise, this may require just persevering even when we don’t “feel like it”


In deepening discipleship it is essential to have partner--preferably an experienced, senior partner Our younger, Star Wars minded members can easily grasp this master-apprentice concept In our normal, parish setting the “master” may be Pastor or Deacon; for some in special circumstances, such as institutions, the pastoral staff and chaplains. One aspect of spiritual discipline where the use of a senior partner is essential is with Confession and Absolution. We cannot pronounce Absolution upon ourselves--it must be done for us by another. The pamphlet enclosed explains this more fully.

Rest and recovery parallels the silence in the liturgy--and we all need help with this one! We tend to be silence-phobic or sound-aholic--as soon as we awaken the radio, stereo, or TV must be turned on so that there is some sound around us. But it is critical to make time for silence after each Psalm in the prayer offices. As in serious exercise, the silence ought to be at least as long as the time required to read or to sing the Psalm. Likewise, the Scripture lessons should be followed by an equally long interval of silence. “Be still and know that I am God”

Variety in our spiritual exercises comes primarily through the recurring cycle of feasts and fasts that we call the Church Year. Although the basic overall patterns of the Eucharist and the services of Daily Prayer remain constant, there are many seasonal variations. In Lent, for example, we “put away” Alleluia. The Hymn of Praise is omitted from the Sunday Liturgy, while the order for Confession and Forgiveness plays a more dominant role, further accentuated this year by the reading from the Law.

Even in the Daily prayer offices the Lenten season’s impact is felt: The opening Psalm of Morning Payer is heralded with The Lord is near to all who call on Him instead of Give glory to God, our life and our light.” The great canticles of Morning and Evening Prayer are surrounded by the same verse from Joel that acclaims the Gospel at the Eucharist: Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. And after forty days--just as these have crossed the line from familiarly memorized to rote ritualism--it is time for another Church season.

This Lent, strive to be more disciplined, more regular and deliberate. Make time to be silent after reading or hearing God’s Word. Savor the season’s songs and changes.

“And finally, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6:10)

And it is for precisely these reasons we are offering the electronic Byzantine Daily Office as a daily reminder to pray (by sending it out each evening for the next day), and as an easy and convenient way to pray Morning and Evening Prayer, and the hours, as suits each person's schedule. By providing all the texts, with the changeable parts included each day, we are offering a simple, easy to use method to follow all or part of the Eastern Christian approach to daily prayer, especially during this upcoming season of the Great Fast. Just send us an email at info@ecpubs.com to signup for the FREE TRIAL.

Jack

That could also offer the possibility of accountability (for those who would desire it) by tracking whether or not the Office had at least been displayed through "read" receipts....a dearth of "read" receipts could lead to a personalized follow-up.

I have mp3 recordings of the morning and evening prayers (in Slavonic) that I listen to on the train to and from work. I only do the evening prayers on the way home from work if I know that I am going to be so exhausted that I won't read them before bed, which is when they are meant to be read. I always do the morning ones via my earphones however, because I am a get up as late as possible and run out the door kind of person. I find this is a good solution for me. I know that you can buy the morning and evening prayers on CD in English from Orthodox Booksellers.

If it's not clear what I mean by morning and evening prayers, I mean the ones from the Jordanville prayerbook or Slavonic Molitvoslov.

I also do some of my communion preparation this way, as I have recordings of the pre-communion canon and prayers also.

Can you provide a link to Orthodox Booksellers?

Thanks.

Bob

In English:

http://www.notofthisworldicons.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=80001577-1324074346
http://www.easterngiftshop.com/orth...-and-evening-prayers-cd--MornEvenCD.html

Many places have it, just google "morning evening prayers cd jordanville".

I can send the mp3s in Slavonic if you email me.

Is there an interest in having Morning and Evening Prayer, and maybe the Daily Hours (without the propers that change every day) produced as English audio recordings, and perhaps available on iTunes?

Jack

Dear Jack,

such things already exist. If you don't want the CD mentioned above, I should point out that if you trawl the net for a while using such terms as "morning prayer russian orthodox mp3" or "third hour orthodox mp3" you will find recordings.

Since I referenced the morning prayers above (and I don't want to offend anyone by linking to mp3s ripped off the Jordanville CD and sold illegally), see what I found on the first page of my google search with "third hour orthodox mp3".

http://ancientfaith.com/specials/thehours

Repeat the same searches in Russian on a Russian language site and you'll find even more.

Thank you for posting! I used to have these on an ipod and would listen to them during the day to take a few minutes away...my ipod died and I couldn't remember where I got them from...