Thursday, October 4, 2007

Exhortations Of The Optina Elders From My Pastor


Dear Brethren,

Christ is in our midst!

Below are some helpful thoughts on prayer from many of the Optina elders. May God grant that we may give glory to Him in our prayers!

"Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us!"

Love in our Lord Jesus,
+Fr. Basil
**********

Pray fervently to the Lord God and warm your cold heart with His sweetest name, for God is our fire. Calling on His name destroys impure dreams and warms the heart to fulfill all of His commandments.
St. Anthony of Optina


God does not demand undistracted prayer from beginners. It is acquired with much time and labor, as the writings of the holy fathers say: "God grants prayer to those who prayer...".
St. Hilarion of Optina


In the struggle of prayer, it is absolutely necessary to force oneself, and compel oneself to pray.
St. Barsanuphius of Optina


We must not attribute miracle-working power to our prayer; we must not think that what we ask of the Lord is always fulfilled. This thought comes from pride and leads to deception.
St. Hilarion of Optina


After prayer, whether in church or at home, silence is necessary in order to preserve the prayerful, compunctionate mood of the soul. Sometimes a seemingly simple, even insignificant word can destroy and scare off, like a little bird, the compunction from our soul.
St. Nikon of Optina


It is necessary to preserve the fruit of prayer. It is spoiled and lost very often due to idle talking, right after prayer and from dreaming, which is also idle talking, only with yourself. Silence after prayer is very beneficial: it keeps the prayer in the mind, heart, and even in the mouth, audible to you.
St. Nikon of Optina


You must pray for those who hate and offend you thus: "Save, O Lord, and have mercy on Thy servant, my beloved sister/brother (name), and for the sake of her/his holy prayers have mercy on me, the wretched sinner."
St. Ambrose of Optina


When you do not have much time for prayer, be satisfied with the time that you do have, and God will accept your good desire. Remember that the feeling of the Publican in prayer is pleasing to God, and beware of evaluating your prayer: that is the work of God, not us.
St. Macarius of Optina


Prayer in church is important. The best thoughts and feelings come in church, yes, and the enemy attacks more violently in church, but with the sign of the Cross and the Jesus Prayer, you drive him away. It is good to stand in some dark corner in church and to pray to God. "Let us lift up our hearts!" the priest exclaims, but our mind often creeps along the ground, thinking about indecent things. Fight against this.
St. Barsanuphius of Optina


The Jesus Prayer is the most essential weapon in the work of our salvation. But he who takes hold of it must expect temptations and be prepared for an inner battle, a battle with thoughts. The demons do not like the Jesus Prayer and in every way they take vengeance on the person who strikes them with this sword.
St. Barsanuphius of Optina


On should not pay attention to tempting thoughts, but should rive them far away from himself, and not being disturbed, continue the mental work. Though the fruit of this labor be imperceptible, though a person may not experience spiritual delights, tenderness, etc. -- still prayer cannot remain inactive. It quietly completes its work.
St. Barsanuphius of Optina

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