Dn. Raphael When I was a young protestant I was taught that prayer should be from the heart (spontaneous). When people prayed reading a prayer I sat through it in judgement and didn’t listen to its content. After becoming Orthodox I came to accept that written prayers, especially by Church Fathers, were of benefit. Not only were they the prayers of revered and holy saints, they could help me learn to pray even when I prayed from my own heart. I could make their prayers mine. I didn’t think I had to study them, but as I used them I improved my prayers.
Eventually I made a concerted effort to consider the words of these written prayers. They deserve concentrated thought. What I am talking about goes beyond reciting/reading the prayer. It is to pray with the saints, using their prayers.
Consider this prayer by St. Macarius the Great, an Egyptian monk of the fourth century:
Having risen from sleep, I hasten to Thee, O Lord, for Thou lovest mankind, and by Thy loving-kindness I strive to do Thy works, and I pray to thee: help me at all times, in everything, and deliver me from every evil thing of the world and every attack of the devil, and lead me into Thine eternal kingdom. For Thou art my Creator, the Giver and Protector of everything good, and all my hope is in Thee. And to Thee I send up glory, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
What do I mean when I say “praying with the saints?” I break a saint’s prayer into short phrases. Then add my own prayerful words. For example:
Having risen from sleep, I hasten to Thee – I have risen from sleep, O Lord, I come to you this morning looking for you. I am like a newlywed, who arises, looks at my wife with an urgency and relief that she is near and not a dream.
O Lord, for Thou lovest mankind, – That you love each and every person is stunning. Yours is a love that is never reciprocated in full, even by me. Forgive me. I consider myself with all my faults and sins to be the most incredible recipient of this love. And yet, I am so self-absorbed that I neglect your love and loving you. I know the sun and rain are from you and for the benefit of all: pagans, heretics, atheists, and believers. How am I to love you? Teach me!!!!
I think you get the idea. Try praying with the saints. You can also pray like this with the Psalms.
Let me know how it works for you.
Dn. Raphael: Thank you for your insight on Praying With the Saints. I, too, am from a Protestant background and always struggled with having a meaningful prayer life. Since I have become Orthodox – and use an Orthodox prayer book that incorporates many Psalms and prayers of the saints, which I use in the same way you do – for the first time my prayer life is exciting and much more meaningful. Thanks for confirming I’m on a right prayer path.