Chapter 129

The Rule Can Be Changed

The liturgical order for church services must be kept as it is. As for the prayer rule at home, it does not have to be unchanging but can be varied in time, in length, and in composition; one thing to keep in mind: that everything is done not to please laziness and that prayer comes from the soul. Whatever liturgical order you have, that is good. You can add to it and change it. The short prayers of St. John Chrysostom are good—12 for night and 12 for day. You can select the more impressive verses from the psalms. Act with complete freedom in all things. Sometimes spend the entire prayer time praying your own prayers according to your present need; or insert such a prayer in your rule at the beginning, middle, or end; or without words, just holding feeling toward God with the cry: “God, be merciful to me” or “By what judgments you know, save me.”

(Letter 516. Vol. 3, p. 205)