Chapter 65
Guidance for Prayer and Interior Work
65.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
65.3.1 I see that you’ve understood what the work of prayer is. Now please act accordingly. In the morning, when you wake, go through in your mind all the divine truths according to the Creed: about the consubstantial Trinity and the boundless attributes and perfections of God—His omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, and so on; about creation, providence, the incarnation of God the Word for our salvation and redemption, His sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension; about the descent of the Holy Spirit, about the foundation of the Holy Church of God through the holy apostles, about the end of the world and the judgement of God, and about the eternal lot of each according to his deeds; about the mercy of God toward us, that we belong to the one true Church and have hope through her to be granted the promises of God both here, and in death, and after death. This examination will give rise to a feeling toward God and to corresponding prayers to God that flow from that feeling. And there you have prayer. Then throughout the whole day, strive to remain in this feeling, whether you are at home or in church, standing continually in your heart before the Lord. The thought of death, of judgement, and of the final determination of our eternal lot is more effective than all other thoughts. Hold fast to this thought. From this will be born a contrite spirit, and a heart contrite and humble, which God never despises. So there you have the whole programme for interior work. Be such, then.
65.4.1 What books should you read? Buy from the Athonites the collection ‘On Sobriety and Prayer’… A great deal of patristic teaching on prayer is gathered there, and read a little each day to sustain a prayerful disposition through it. Get from them also the Psalter of Saint Ephrem, where his cries of prayer to God are collected. Reread often the book ‘What Is the Spiritual Life?’… and the chapters on prayer in the book Unseen Warfare… the Russian Philokalia. These are books I compiled, but there’s nothing of my own in them: everything is patristic.
65.5.1 Only the book ‘What is the spiritual life?...’ is entirely mine, but the teaching in it is not mine—only the words are mine. In the other books listed here, even the words aren’t mine: everything is patristic. Whoever wishes to learn prayer should read only about prayer.
65.6.1 Concerning the Midnight Office after the all-night vigil, you should consult the typikon. I think it’s better to read it with heartfelt attention... Instead of the kathisma you can do a hundred prostrations with the Jesus Prayer.
65.7.1 Be saved!
65.8.1 Your devoted servant, Bishop Theophan.
65.9.1