Chapter 57

The Direct Path to Unceasing Prayer

If someone asked me, “How should I carry out the work of prayer?” I would say to him: “Become accustomed to walking in God’s presence or preserve the remembrance of God and show reverence; to sustain this remembrance, choose several short little prayers or simply take the 24 short prayers of Chrysostom and repeat them often with fitting thoughts and feelings. As the habit grows, your mind will become enlightened by the remembrance of God, and your heart will be warmed. In this state, finally a spark from God—a ray of grace—will fall into your heart. You cannot produce this with anything; it comes directly from God… Then you can remain with the Jesus Prayer alone and with it fan the prayer-spark into flame.” Such is the direct path. (10, 190)