On Unceasing Prayer – by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
Unceasing prayer was enjoined by God Himself. The Savior of
the world said, “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock,
and it will be opened to you.” “And
shall God not avenge his own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He
bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” The Apostle Paul repeats the Lord’s teaching and
says: “Pray without ceasing” “I desire
therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath
and doubting.”
By the term men the Apostle means Christians who have attained
to Christian perfection. Only mature or perfect Christians can pray “without
wrath and doubting,” that is, in profound peace, with the purest love for one’s
neighbor and without the least resentment or criticism of him, without the
distraction of irrelevant thoughts and imaginations (without doubting). Such
people can at all times and in all places offer prayer to God, raising and
lifting up to Him holy hands, the mind and heart being purified of the passions
and sanctified by the Spirit.
It is obvious that unceasing prayer cannot be the
possession of a novice; but in order to become eventually capable of unceasing
prayer he must practice frequent prayer. Frequent prayer in due time passes
automatically into unceasing prayer. Because the easiest way of practicing
unceasing prayer is to pray the Jesus Prayer, a beginner should apply himself
to the Jesus Prayer as often as possible. Do you happen to have a moment free?
Do not waste it in idleness! Do not waste it by using it for some impracticable
and fatuous castle-building, or for some vain and trivial employment! Use it
for the practice of the Jesus Prayer. If from weakness or, more correctly, on
account of your fallen nature, you happen to be distracted by alluring thoughts
and fancies, do not get despondent and do not grow slack.
Repent before God of
your levity and frivolity, confess your fallen nature and your distraction,
fall down mentally before His mercy, and take precautionary measures against
seductive dreams and seductive thoughts. He who does not train himself to
frequent prayer will never receive unceasing prayer.
Unceasing prayer is a gift
of God, given by God to a slave and servant of His of proven fidelity. “It is impossible to draw near to God other
than by unceasing prayer.” Unceasing prayer is a sign of God’s mercy toward a
man; it is a sign that all the powers of his soul are bent on God.
Have mercy upon me,
O Lord, for I will call upon Thee all day.
Give joy to the soul of Thy servant,
for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul.
By Brianchaninov, St. Ignatius . from his book, The Arena: Guidelines for Spiritual and Monastic Life
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