On Prayer - (Code IA1)

Prayer is delight for the spirit. But the circumstances accompanying this creative work are complex. Time after time we experience an eager upsurge towards God, followed repeatedly by a falling away from His Light. Time and again we are conscious of the mind’s inability to rise to Him. There are moments when we feel ourselves on the verge of madness. Pain forces the cry, ‘Thou didst give me Thy precept to love, which I accept with all my being, but there is no strength in me for this love. Thou Who art love, come and abide in me, and perform in me all that Thou hast enjoined, for Thy commandment exceeds my powers. My mind is too frail to comprehend Thee. My spirit cannot see into the mysteries of Thy life. I desire to do Thy will in all things but my days go by in perpetual conflict. I am tortured by the fear of losing Thee because of the evil thoughts in my heart; and this fear crucifies me. I sink. Lord, save me, as Thou didst save Peter who dared to walk on the water, to go to Thee.

Contents

PART I
Prayer – An ever-new Creation
Prayer – The Way to Knowledge
Again, On Prayer
Spiritual Life
The Role of the Father Confessor

PART II
The Jesus Prayer
The Jesus Prayer: Method
The Jesus Prayer for all times and occasions
Prayers
Prayer at Daybreak
Evening and Morning Prayers
For the Holy Liturgy
and some more prayers for special occasions.