“Brother Chris told the story about a woman at his skete who was very intent on saying the Jesus Prayer constantly. She went to the garage while saying her prayer, got into her car while saying it, and backed out. But she forgot to open the garage door. She misunderstood what praying without ceasing meant. Praying without ceasing is more about becoming prayer than constantly saying prayers with our lips. It’s about being fully in the present and fully focused on what we are doing. Emptying the dishwasher, doing laundry, cooking, tutoring our child, listening to our spouse, working at job, can all be ways to be prayer if we focus attentively and immerse ourselves in the present moment willingly and lovingly. This is exemplary of a prayerful heart that brings glory to God.” (Brother Chris, Sacramental Living Ministries)
“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed…It can happen that when we are at prayer some brothers come to see us. Then we have to choose either to interrupt our prayer or to sadden our brother by refusing to answer him. But love is greater than prayer. Prayer is one virtue among others, whereas love contains them all." (Brother Lawrence St. John Climacus)
“Unceasing prayer leads to the acquisition of faith, because he who prays unceasingly begins gradually to feel the presence of God.” (The Art of Prayer)
“The beginnings of prayer reside in the desire of the heart to know God…When we pray, we must do so from the heart, for God is the Lord of the heart. He is the center of the life of every living being.” (Bishop Irenei Steenberg, Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica)
“In order to offer a simple caring presence and to be a friend to others in need we must also seek to have a prayerful sense of self.” (Robert J. Wicks)
#BrotherChris #SacramentalLivingMinistries #BrotherLawrence #StJohnClimacus #TheArtofPrayer #BishopIreneiSteenberg #ElderThaddeusofVitovnica #RobertJWicks