Chapter 85
On the Jesus Prayer and a Contrite Spirit
85.2.1 May the mercy of God be with you!
85.3.1 I have been slow to answer you. I’m to blame! And yet you’ve raised some very important questions. The first concerns the Jesus Prayer. I think the elders do well not to impose the rule of this prayer on novices. One must wait until the one who has begun the work has labored in church prayer and home prayer; and only instruct him to pray always from the heart with remembrance of the omnipresent God to whom he prays, and with understanding of the words of prayer, believing that the Lord is near, attends to his prayer, and is ready to fulfill his petition if he prays as he ought... Keep him in this order a good while longer. Then, when he has become accustomed to praying attentively in this manner, hand on to him the rule of the Jesus Prayer as well.
85.4.1 In the practice of this prayer, teach those who are learning not to limit themselves to memorizing the words alone, but always to have the Lord before the eyes of their intellect and, directing the words of the prayer to Him, to conduct themselves as they would conduct themselves if they were standing before the emperor and asking him for something. Let there be a contrite spirit and a heart contrite and humble.
85.5.1 That novice who was writing the Jesus Prayer on his heart evidently placed all the power of prayer in the words. Let him learn to walk in the presence of God and to perform every act of obedience in the best possible way, knowing that the Lord is watching him... and that for good fulfillment of obedience He is preparing a reward for him, but for carelessness (just to get it off his hands) – either nothing, or something punitive... In this way he will become accustomed to praying noetically and with recollection.
85.6.1 What one should seek through prayer is the establishment in the heart of a quiet but warm feeling toward God that does not depart; but one should not strive for raptures or special movements, and when God does send special prayerful feelings, give thanks for them but not appropriate them to oneself, and not grieve when they depart, as though over some great loss, but always descend humbly from them to the quiet feeling toward the Lord.
85.7.1 The second – about absolution. You do well to absolve the contrite person directly, without imposing a penance; but say to him: brother, preserve this contrite spirit and renew it when it grows weak. And to the one who confesses coldly—to him, after you absolve him, say: brother, take care to acquire and establish in yourself a contrite spirit, and for this—make three full prostrations in the church or at home, with the prayer: a contrite spirit, a heart contrite and humble grant me, Lord!
85.8.1 May the Lord bless you!
85.9.1