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Mar 25th, 2025
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 20
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Junior Member
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Posts: 20 |
Dear All,
I was rereading the book, "The Art of Prayer" by Chariton and I was wondering about the warnings of Theophon the Recluse of the necessity of a staretz when practising the Jesus prayer. If you do not know of one is it better to go without or should you search for a spiritual director who maybe has limited practice and knowledge of the Jesus prayer? I had the experience as a monastic nun in a Roman rite order with a Byzantine liturgy where the Jesus prayer was practiced under the guidance of a staretz. There are no Eastern Catholic Churches near here so I am still Roman Catholic with an eastern heart. Twice I attempted to become Orthodox but it did not happen.(I also spent some time in a monastery in Greece)... So how does one live the Jesus prayer in the world with out having proper guidance? How does one deal with the danger of illusion as mentioned in the book?
Thanking you in advance for your thoughts,
In the peace Christ,
Marie
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 26,405 Likes: 38 |
Dear Marie,
I'm no staretz, but it would be good to have a regular confessor and if one may have a monastic confessor, all the better.
Ask God to give you the guidance that He wishes you to have, and you WILL receive it.
One could read the Philokalia on discernment and the Jesus Prayer, the Way of the Pilgrim, and the Ladder of Divine Ascent.
It is important to attend Divine Liturgy and Communion regularly, read the scriptures et al.
St Seraphim of Sarov prescribed this rule for laity:
3 Our Father's, 3 Hail Mary's, 1 Creed - morning, noon and night.
In between, one was to unceasingly say the Jesus Prayer, from morning until noon.
From noon until dinner-time, one could say "Lord Jesus Christ, by the Theotokos, have mercy on me a sinner" or "Most Holy Mother of God, save me a sinner."
And even when one is talking to someone, one could continue by saying "Lord have mercy."
It would be good to confess one's difficulties to a priest or nun - God will send you an experienced mentor in time.
For now, accept Saint Seraphim of Sarov as your Elder. Pray to him to guide you, as if you were speaking to a priest or nun.
As he promised, he will hear you - and answer your prayer!
Alex
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 20
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 20 |
Dear Alex,
Thank you for your encouraging and wise words. I know the importance of having a spiritual guide as you mentioned. Trying to be truthful with oneself so as to root out our sins is greatly aided by a good confessor. We...I am so blind...
I've read the books you mentioned and recently ordered the Philokalia so I could reread it and refer to it for discernment.
There is a bi-ritual priest in this diocese who I was thinking about approaching. I will continue to pray about it.
In the meantime....your offer that I take St. Seraphim of Sarov as my Geronda brings peace to my soul. Now I am enlightened to go back and read his writings of wisdom and be ever more faithful to my Prayer Rule!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. I truly appreciate it.
Through the Theotokos, have mercy on us.
Marie
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 20
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 20 |
Oops....just realized that this post should have been under another topic...Faith and Worship..I believe...
Forgive me...a first time poster
Marie
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461 Likes: 1
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461 Likes: 1 |
The dreaded double post. 
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461 Likes: 1
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,461 Likes: 1 |
Dear Marie, the "Little Russian Philokalia" has Volume I dedicated to St. Seraphim. You should definitely read that. The correspondence and conversations between St. Seraphim and his spiritual child Motovilov are especially edifying. St. Seraphim is a wonderful living icon of the loving starets.
It is truly difficult in this secular age to find that special starets or startsina. Mine is quite far awar so we try to communicate by phone, letters, etc. But don't give up and always ask the Holy Spirit for guidance, discernment, and peace.
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,964
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,964 |
Originally posted by Diak: The dreaded double post. Do not be so hard on yourself. Two posts are needed to mark the gate through which you are being guided.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 216
Junior Member
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 216 |
I've always been advised by Orthodox priests to say the Jesus prayer. However, I just read on-line (from a source that I think is a bit off so who knows if it's really true) that catachumens are forbidden from reciting the Jesus prayer and that it should only be said by monastics.
True or not?
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,280
Former Moderator
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Former Moderator
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,280 |
More properly this post belongs in the Liturgy and Worship section. Questions and answers about prayer strictly speaking are not for this section...just prayer intentions.
In Christ, Who calls us to prayer and union with Himself,
+Fr. Gregory
+Father Archimandrite Gregory, who asks for your holy prayers!
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