Chapter 147

On the Same Subject (147)

The little prayers of Saint Chrysostom you can use instead of your home prayer rule, which you keep in your cell – in the evening and morning. Learn them and think through each one. In them the entire spiritual life is commemorated. How many times to repeat each one – determine it so that you stand in prayer for as long as you ordinarily spend on your rule. To them you can also add your own prayers, chosen from the psalms: whichever verse strikes your heart, write that down. Also the words from the litany of supplication, sung to “Grant, O Lord!”, you can turn into prayers, just instead of: we ask… and grant – say: “Grant me, O Lord.” For example, the litany says: forgiveness and remission of sins and transgressions do we ask of the Lord. Instead of that, say: “Forgiveness and remission of sins and transgressions grant to me, O Lord.” And so with all. Using these prayers in your rule with attention, you will soon become accustomed to standing in prayer without distraction. Insert the Jesus Prayer among them. For instance, after saying ten times, “Lord, do not deprive me of your heavenly blessings,” add: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

If you take up this practice, all akathists, canons and prayers can be set aside, except the prayers that are very close to your heart. A prayer list of one sort with these prayers. You can read it.

(Letter 500. Vol. 3, pp. 178–179)