Chapter 179

On the Number of Prayers

The monk does well to labor in the Jesus Prayer. But does he forget that the matter lies not in the words and not in the number of Jesus Prayers, but in becoming accustomed to always remaining in the remembrance of God? It is good to maintain a number, so as not to grow lazy, but the essential thing is that thoughts and feelings remain holy. The main fruit of prayer is not warmth and sweetness, but fear of God and contrition. You must constantly kindle these, live with them, and breathe them.

You say that sometimes you forget to keep count with the prayer rope. It is no great trouble. When there is a turning toward the Lord as present to you, with reverence and trust, this is better than any precise number of prayers.

(Letter 902. Volume 5, pp. 175–176)