Chapter 158

When Prayer Grows Cold

Grant you, O Lord, to conform to the order of the Holy Church not only in food and drink, but also in spiritual disposition.

You remind me of spiritual coldness in the matter of prayer. This is great damage. Endeavor to rouse yourself. Household tasks can excuse only brief standing in prayer, but they cannot excuse the decline of inner prayer. The Lord is pleased with little, but even little must come from the heart. To raise the mind to Him and with contrition to say: “Lord, have mercy! Lord, bless! Lord, help!”—this is a prayer cry. And if there arises and dwells in the heart a feeling toward God, then this will be unceasing prayer without words and without formal prayer standing.

You certainly have the book “On Watchfulness and Prayer.” A collection… Take it up and read it little by little. Prayer will begin to move.

Insert into your prayer rule brief prayers of Saint John Chrysostom: “Lord, do not deprive me of Your heavenly blessings!” and others. You may omit any of the appointed prayers, but speak these 3, 5, or 10 times. As your soul is inclined. Sometimes you can replace the whole rule with these. It is also good to read them during the day between tasks. You must think them over and feel them. And then they will serve as a lever.

I am sending you the 3rd volume of the “Philokalia.” There you will find something to read for warming prayer.

(Letter 293. Vol. 2, pp. 150–151)