Blooming in the Desert – September 10th, 2009 – Episode 2 – Pillars of Piety Series Part 1: Prayer

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Prayer is what each Orthodox Christian is called to take part in and to make a regulative part of one’s life.  Truly, going further, as is discussed in this program, prayer itself is  to be our life.

But where do we begin and what is prayer and what are the differences between personal, unceasing, intercessory and liturgical prayer and what binds them all together organically?

In this program we discuss prayer but also understand that a one hour podcast can hardly do this vast, rich and all encompassing subject a thorough justice.  As well, we mention how prayer is tied into the other pillars that will be discussed in the following episodes and apart from them and isolated, is not prayer in the fullest sense.

We are blessed to have Father John Dresko, our parish priest with us in this program.

The following outline was used in preparation and loosely adhered to during the program which will aid the listener.

Kicking off our series called Pillars of Piety

Part 1: Prayer
In this episode we are breaking down the 4 parts of Prayer. The Orthodox Church
teaches that all of the virtues and powers of God are attained primarily by prayer. This
needs to be emphasized. Below is a brief outline of each part of prayer.

1.) Personal Prayer

-Matthew writes in 6:6-8 “…..when you pray, go into your room, and when you
have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and when your
Father who sees in the secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not
use vain repetitions….”

-Prayer is communication with God

-True prayer is being humble, personal, and sincere (not repetitive, or vain)

-Beauty of Orthodoxy is that we use all forms of prayer (personal prayer is one
aspect ofprayer)

• In personal prayer we can keep our eyes open or closed
• We can do sign of the cross or not
• We can be silent or speak audibly

-Personal prayer is communicating with God.  It is not a one way speech to God,
but rather a communication with God where He is present with us at the
very moment in that very time and place.

2.) Unceasing prayer

-St. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5 : I 7- I 8 (Pray without ceasing, in everything
give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.)

- Prayer rules(i.e. the discipline of praying prescribed prayers at prescribed times)

-The Jesus Prayer or also called the Prayer of the Heart (taken from Orthodox Wiki)

It is one of the most profound and mystical prayers and is often
repeated endlessly as part of a personal ascetic practice. The prayer is most
reflective of the lesson taught by the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee; in
which the Pharisee demonstrates the improper way to pray by exclaiming, “Thank
you Lord that I am not like the Publican.” While the Publican in humility prays
correctly “Lord have mercy on me, the sinner” (Luke I8: 10-14). And likewise in
the Gospels, Peter crying out as he sank into the sea, “Lord, save me.” In the
Orthodox tradition the prayer is said or prayed repeatedly, often with the aid of a
prayer rope. It may be accompanied by prostrations and the sign of the cross. As
such, it is used as a means of finding contrition and as a means of bringing about
humility in the individual; hence the words “the sinner” are sometimes added as if
no other sinner existed but the person praying (though there is no indefinite
article in Greek, thus leading to some controversy about whether the translation
in English should be “the sinner” or “a sinner”).

3.)  Intercessory prayer

-Intercessory prayer is a prayer for others.

In praying to His Father, Jesus prayed for His people (John 17).  Jesus often prayed for others,
thus we do the same.

-Intercessory prayers can be made for every “good gift” from God for the sake of
the salvation of others. Such prayers can include petitions for every kind of
blessing, both for the body and the soul. They can be made for the inspiration and
instruction of men, as well as for their healing and salvation. Whatever one can
ask for oneself, one can ask for all men. Whatever one does ask for oneself should
be entreated for all. “It is right to pray not only for one’s own purification, but for
the purification of every man…” (St. Nilus of Sinai, 5th c., Texts on Prayer)
Liturgical prayer – (Taken from the OCA website)

4.)  Liturgical Prayer – (taken from the OCA website)

-It is the one time where our personal prayers are put aside so that we may be one
with the Church, and the body of Christ.

-In the liturgical prayer of the Church, one should make every effort to join oneself
fully with all the members of the body. This is not a time for personal prayer, one
should pray with the Church. Not to forgets one’s own needs and desires, not just
become a voice in the crowd, rather one should unite one’s own person, one’s
own needs and desires, with all those who are present, with the church throughout
the world, throughout time, with the angels and saints, with Christ Himself in the
one great “divine” and “heavenly liturgy” of all creation before God.

-In the Orthodox Church, liturgical prayer is the Church’s participation in Christ’s
perpetual prayer in the presence of God in the Kingdom of heaven, offering his
“body” and “bride” to the Father in the Spirit. It is the official prayer of the
formally assembled Church, the body of Christ, and the bride of Christ.

A few interesting and edifying quotes:

-“Prayer needs no teacher. It requires diligence, effort and personal ardor, and then
God will be its teacher.” St. Meletius the Confessor

-“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17)

-“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18)

-“He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart”. (Luke l8:1)