Spiritual gifts are freely available to us all. But we must be spiritual in order to receive them. What does that mean? Prayer is the Divine Language. Sometimes we say things and sometimes we ask for things. Most of the time, however, we should sit in silence and stillness; so as to open ourselves to the eternal penetration of God's energies throughout our bodies, minds, and spirits. What happens when we don't pray? Communication is cut off between us and God. When this happens, we can not know what spiritual gifts he has for us and how to use them to accomplish His will. St. Paul says this well: "Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually" (1 Corinthians 2:14). What happens when we pray? The everlasting God of love and mercy, the one who creates, redeems, and sanctifies, offers us everything we need for the journey into an eternity with Him. We simply have to commune with Him, in prayer, to gain understanding and courage. Meditate with Him in silence and stillness. #God #prayer #continualprayer #MeditativePrayer #StPaul #Freedom #Creator #Redemption #holiness #Spirituality #Love #Mercy #Redeemer #SacredScripture

Live To mirror the life of Christ Pray For it is the divine language Seek The path that leads to Eternity Love Your spirit naturally craves the Holy Spirit Be Give yourself over to the silence and stillness There you will contemplate God #JesusChrist #prayer #continualprayer #Divinity #Love #holiness #silence #Stillness #God #ContemplativePrayer

When God came as a man, He reminded us that we were created to be both human and divine. Christ showed our forefathers and mothers how to work, love, intercede and pray as He did. They repeated what they heard and wrote what they saw. They handed down to us a great understanding of what it means to live in the image and likeness of God. But He didn't stop with them; for He never stops calling us to be close to Him (cf. John 13:23). Each day of every year in all places, God invites us into a closer relationship with Him through His Most Holy Sprit. He leads us not to abandon our humanity, but to live it fully as embodied spiritual beings. St. Paul says this best: "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). By that combination of internal and external realities - the divine and the human - we are saved from living a life of blindness, deafness, and stupidity. Instead, we are shown how to reach out in faith and to become fully something more. #God #StPaul #StJohntheEvangelist #HolySpirit #JesusChrist #Heaven #Eternity #continualprayer #prayer #MeditativePrayer

Frequently in our time, we hear the refrain: "I am spiritual, but not religious." As confounding as that is - for the simple reason that there is no true, good, or beautiful spirituality that is not informed and shaped by the theology that reveals and undergirds it. The simple Latin phrase Lex orandi, lex credendi explains this best; the law of prayer is the law of belief, which means that the prayers we pray are informed by the theology that constructed them, and, that the theology we create comes from the spiritual experiences we've had - we must also admit that there are those who are "religious but not spiritual." While it is true that a person who chooses to participate in that which is spiritual has participated in the better half (cf. Luke 10:42), it is also true that we were purpose-built to mirror Christ (who has both a human nature and a divine nature). As St. Paul tells us, "For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). In other words, we must work with both halves of our reality: divine and human; spiritual and theological; relational and physical. But how do we do this? Christ showed us how. Pray: to communicate with God and to commune with Him. Intercede: to demonstrate God to others and to help them commune with Him and each other. #God #StPaul #StLuketheEvangelist #SacredScripture #Divinity #Humanity #Spirituality #prayer #continualprayer #IntercessoryPrayer

There is a vocal prayer of preparation in the Christian East that forms a type of introduction to other prayers within particular services. For example, priests and deacons pray this as a prologue to Divine Liturgy or as the preface to house blessings, memorials for the deceased, patronal feasts, the daily cycle of prayers and more. It can also be used to start your own prayers. Notice that the beauty of this prayer is in its simplicity. It contains, among other things, the Prayer to the Holy Spirit, the Lord's Prayer, and the Trisagion Prayer (this extended prayer of preparation is also generally referred to as the Trisagion Prayers even though it contains much more). Since these are familiar prayers, they provide a sense of comfort. They're also catechetical, which means they remind us of the basic tenets of faith. In the context of personal prayer, it would be natural to add your intercessory requests afterward. While this prayer isn't normally envisioned as a launching point for meditation, it is helpful to keep us focused on God as the center of our life. "Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to Thee. "O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, cleanse us from every sin, and save our souls, O Good One. "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3 times). "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. "All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name's sake. "Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. "Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. "Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. "For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen." #VocalPrayer #MeditativePrayer #PrayertotheHolySpirit #PrayerofPreparation #Trisagion #HolySpirit #HolyTrinity #God #LordsPrayer #Catechesis

The "Trisagion" or "Thrice Holy" by itself is a simple vocal prayer addressed to God, describing three qualities of His being that are repeated three times. Notice how this prayer names God divine, strong, and ever-lasting. While these are complex theological propositions in and of themselves, the pure simplicity of the expression aids you in approaching God with a sense of awesome wonder, while then finishing with a heartfelt plea for His love and mercy. Pray this unceasingly! Then, stop using the words. This will launch you into a silent and still meditation where the Energies of God will reach down from Heaven to show you who you were before creation and lead you to where He wants you to reside with Him for all eternity! "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us" (repeat 3x). #Trisagion #God #holiness #Immortal #Mercy #Sin #Sinner #MeditativePrayer #VocalPrayer

"Heavenly King" is a vocal prayer addressed specifically to the Holy Spirit. Not only does it affirm that the Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity exists, is divine, and lives among us now in no less a way than Jesus was for the Apostles; but also it explains His constant presence as our "comforter" who is also referred to as our "advocate" in John 14:16. This simple prayer is also an invitation for the Holy Spirit to make an abode within us; a plea to remove from us the constant desire to sin; and an expression of sincere longing to spend eternity in the Heavenly Kingdom. Pray this unceasingly! Then, stop using the words. This will launch you into a still and silent meditation where the Holy Spirit engulfs you in love and changes you interiorly. "Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, Treasury of goodness and Giver of life: Come, abide in us, cleanse us from all stain of sin, and save our souls, O Good One." #HolySpirit #HolyTrinity #StJohntheTheologian #StJohntheEvangelist #SacredScripture #JesusChrist #Apostles #Sin #Comforter #VocalPrayer #MeditativePrayer #silence #Heaven #luminousdarkness

This is a vocal prayer, which is added in after the reading of the Third Kneeling Prayer on Pentecost. It, too, gives us some passages on which to meditate (the bold type is added to assist you in choosing a meditation), though fewer than the other Kneeling Prayers. As such, it is possible to say that this prayer is more catechetical and confessional than theological, meaning there is a basic education within it, which seeks to keep us on track, so to speak, not allowing us to fall into the potential traps of solipsism in Catharsis and heresy in Theoria. Notice that this prayer is dedicated to God generally, though it makes explicit references to the Creator and the Redeemer. While there is no specific mention of the Holy Spirit, there is a refernce to the angels who are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Make note of the reference to certain Old Testament prophets. When you read it, try to inculcate the attitude of confession throughout. "O God great and eternal, who is holy and loves mankind; who has bestowed to us at this present hour to stand before your ineffable glory, and to sing and to praise your wonders: Purify us, your unworthy servants, and grant us grace that, with a contrite heart, and without presumption, we may offer unto you the Thrice-Holy hymn of praise and thanksgiving for your great gifts, which you have bestowed and always do bestow on us. "Remember, O Lord, our weakness, and destroy us not in our iniquity, but show great mercy upon our humility; that, fleeing from the darkness of sin, we may walk in the daylight of righteousness; and that, putting on the armor of life, we may remain unassailed by any despiteful attack of the Evil One, and with boldness may glorify you in all things, the only true God, who also loves mankind. "For you, O Lord and Creator of all people, are that great and veritable mystery, the dissolution of your creatures for a season, and thereafter their restoration and their rest forever. We acknowledge your grace in all things; for our coming into this world and our going out of it; for our hopes of resurrection and of the life immortal faithfully pledged unto us through your unfailing promises, which we will receive in your Second Coming. For you are the Chieftain of our Resurrection, and the Judge impartial and benign of the dead, and the Master and Lord of recompense, who became a partaker, on equal terms, of our flesh and blood, because of your exceeding great condescension; and when, of your own will, that you, almighty, placed yourself under temptation, you did accept our congenital passions, because your compassion, and suffered through them, being yourself tempted, you did become for us who are tempted, the helper, which you yourself had promised; and thereby led us to your passionlessness. "Wherefore, O Master, receive our prayers and supplications, and give rest unto the fathers, mothers, children, brothers, and sisters, blood-relations and kinsfolk of each and all of us, and unto all souls, which have fallen asleep before us; and establish their spirits in the hope of Resurrection unto the eternal, and inscribe their names in the Book of Life, in the bosom of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, and in the land of the living, in the kingdom of heaven, in the Paradise of sweetness; by they radiant Angels guiding all into your holy and faithful promise. "Because there is no death, O Lord, for your servants when we depart from the body and come unto you, our God, but a change from things very sorrowful unto things most benign and most sweet, and unto repose and gladness. If, therefore, we have transgressed before you, be merciful unto us and unto them; because there is no one pure from stain in your sight, even for a single day of his life, except for you, who manifested yourself upon earth, O, our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also we all trust to receive mercy and the remission of our sins. "Wherefore, in that you are a gracious God and love mankind, do you, both to them and to us, pardon, remit, forgive our sins, both voluntary and involuntary, which we have committed whether willfully or through ignorance; whether those who are manifest or those which have escaped our notice; whether of deed, or of thought, or of word, whatsoever they may be, in all our acts and lives. An unto the departed also grant your release and pardon; and bless us who are here present, granting unto us, and to all they people, a good and peaceful ending, and opening to the tenderness of your mercy and love toward mankind at your dread and terrible Coming-again; and make us worthy of your kingdom. - This prayer can be found in the Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church; compiled, translated, and arranged by Isabel Florence Hapgood; printed by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 6th ed., 1983, p. 255. #God #Eternity #Redemption #Renewal #thanksgiving #Sinner #Sin #luminousdarkness #Evil #PrayerAgainstEvil #VocalPrayer #MeditativePrayer #soul #Death #Lord #Love #Mercy #Confession #HolyTrinity #Forgiveness #Angels #KneelingPrayers

This is a vocal prayer read in the context of Vespers at Pentecost in anticipation of the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Along with the other two kneeling prayers, it is more expressly theological in character. Though the language may be exacting at points, these words provide us with a fuller explanation of what the Holy Trinity and each of its Holy Persons are and do. As such, it offers us a great bit of material for meditation (the bold type below is added to help you identify phrases that might lead you to deeper prayer), particularly as it relates to growing into the next level of the spiritual life, which is Theoria. Notice that this prayer begins by addressing Jesus Christ and reminds us that the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, by His love, mercy, and power, lights the path of salvation and lays waste to all that can assail us. At the same time, this section is a reminder that we must participate in His great and glorious work of redemption. Near the end, this prayer affirms God as Holy Trinity, and explains the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and remains with all of us throughout humanity. It is also clear that the Holy Spirit lights us with the fire of divine knowledge, gives us strength in faith, and leads us to everlasting life. "O Fountain, ever-flowing, living, illumining; Power creative, coeternal with the Father, O Christ our God, who has most excellently fulfilled all the plan for the salvation of mankind; who shattered the bonds indestructible of Death, and the bolts of Hell, and trampled under foot a host of evil spirits; who offered yourself a blameless victim for us, giving your all-holy body for a sacrifice inviolate, and unassailed of every sin, and who, through that terrible and ineffable act of sacrifice, did bestow upon us life eternal; who did descend into Hell, and break the everlasting bars, and show a way up unto those who abode in the lower world; and having enticed, by divinely wise allurements, the origin of mischief and the serpent of the abyss, and bound him with cords of nethermost gloom and fire unquenchable in Tartarus, and confined him in outer darkness, by your infinite and fettering might, O Wisdom greatly glorified of the Father, you manifested yourself as a mighty helper of the assailed; and enlightened those who sat in the darkness and in the shadow of death, do you, O Lord of the everlasting glory and Son beloved of the Father most high, Light Eternal of Light Eternal, the Son of Righteousness, hear us, who now make our fervent supplications unto you, and give rest to the souls of your servants, our fathers (and mothers) and brethren, and our other kinsmen after the flesh, and of all who are of the household of faith, who have fallen asleep, and who we now call to remembrance. "For you have power over all things, and in your hand you uphold all the ends of the earth. O Master Almighty, the God of our fathers and Lord of mercy, Creator of the race of mortals and immortals, and of every nature of man; of that which is brought together and is again put asunder; of life and of death; of sojourn in the world that now is, and of translation to the world which is to come: you mete out the years of life, and appoint the time of death; you bring down to Hell, and again raise up; you bind unto impotency and loose unto power, order things present according to their necessity, and appointing things to come as is expedient, quickening with the hope of Resurrection those who were smitten with the sting of death. "For you are, of a truth, the Master of all, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are afar off upon the sea; Who, on this last, and great, and redeeming day of the Pentecostal Feast, did reveal unto us the mystery of the Holy Trinity, one in Essence, coeternal, undivided and unmingled; and did pour out the indwelling of fire, upon your holy and life-giving Spirit, in the form of tongues of fire, upon your holy apostles; and appointed the same to be the heralds of the glad tidings of our holy faith; and made them confessors and teachers of the true divine knowledge; who also, on this all-perfect and saving Feast, are graciously pleased to accept propitiatory prayers for those who are imprisoned in Hell, promising unto us who are held in bondage great hope of release from the vileness that hinders us and hindered them; and that you will send down your consolation. "Hear us, your humble ones, who make our supplications unto you, and give rest to the souls of your servants who have fallen asleep, in a place of light, a place of verdure, a place of refreshment where all sickness, sorrow, and sighing have fled away; and establish their souls in the mansions of the Just; and graciously vouchsafe unto them peace and pardon; for the dead shall not praise you, O Lord, neither shall they who are in Hell make bold to offer to you confession. But we who are living will bless you, and will pray, and offer you propitiatory prayers and sacrifices for their souls." - This prayer can be found in the Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church; compiled, translated, and arranged by Isabel Florence Hapgood; printed by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 6th ed., 1983, p. 254. #luminousdarkness #Father #JesusChrist #God #Salvation #Death #Hell #Evil #Sacrifice #holiness #Eternity #HolySpirit #HolyTrinity #Lord #KneelingPrayers

This is a vocal prayer, which is added in after the reading of the Second Kneeling Prayer on Pentecost. It, too, gives us much to meditate on (the bold type is added to assist you in choosing a meditation), particularly in the nexus of Catharsis and Theoria. Notice that this prayer is dedicated to Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Understand, too, that it functions as a prayer of deliverance, meaning that it is a pleading to God to release us from sin, cultural conditioning, and the evil one. It is clearly intended to build fear in the one who is praying it. At one level this puts us off because the prayer literally asks God to give us "anxiety" about "Judgment" and to "illuminate" us by visions of "Judgment." At another level it makes us expect more from ourselves and others. The good and beautiful news here is that, again, there is a recitation about how prayer - communicating with God - delivers us from our delusions and leads us into a deeper and more beautiful union with God. "O Lord, Lord, who delivers us from all the arrows that fly by day, deliver us, also, from all things that infest the darkness. Accept our evening sacrifice, even the lifting-up of our hands. Grant that we may pass through the course of the night without sin, not tempted by evil things; and deliver us from every alarm and cowardice that comes to us from the devil. "Grant unto our souls contrition, and unto our minds anxiety concerning that strict searching out of the thoughts which shall come in the dread and just Day of Judgment. Nail our flesh to the fear of You, and mortify our earthly bodies: that, in the quietness of sleep, we may be illuminated by the vision of your judgments. Remove from us, also, every unseemly imagination and hurtful carnal passion. Raise us up again at the hour of prayer, fortified in the faith, and advancing in your commandments." - This prayer can be found in the Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church; compiled, translated, and arranged by Isabel Florence Hapgood; printed by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 6th ed., 1983, p. 253. #luminousdarkness #Evil #PrayerAgainstEvil #Lord #Judgment #Salvation #JesusChrist #Repentance #Renewal #VocalPrayer #MeditativePrayer #Suffering #Pleasure #Sinner #Sin #Death #KneelingPrayers

This is a vocal prayer read in the context of Vespers at Pentecost in anticipation of the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. It provides us plenty of material on which to meditate (the bold type is added to help you start a meditation). Notice that this prayer addresses Jesus Christ, the second person of the Most Holy Trinity. While it contains heavier theological content, the material is accessible and presented in a way that reveals, as familiar, the human condition. It acknowledges sin, but recognizes with great zeal the love and mercy of God. This prayer reveals the illumination that has come to us through Pentecost and how God gives us everything we need to break the chains of delusion that plague us. In an effort to aid in catharsis, the prayer speaks of Jesus as the "tranquil haven;" asks that He "cover us in the shelter of [His] wings;" and reminds us that whatever is authentically and faithfully "asked in His name, will be granted by the Father." "O Lord Jesus Christ our God, who has bestowed upon mankind your peace and the gift of your Holy Spirit; who, while you were still with us in this present life, did give unto your faithful people an inheritance which shall not be taken away from them forever; who this day did send down your grace upon your disciples and apostles, in a manner most clear, and did furnish their lips with fiery tongues; by whom now, we also, together with all mankind, having received, through the hearing of our own ears divine knowledge in our own tongues, have been illumined with the light of the Spirit, and have put away the delusion of darkness by the distribution of the material and visible tongues of fire, as also by the marvelous operation of the same, whereby we have been inspired with faith toward you, and to glorify you; together with the Father and the Holy Spirit in one Godhead and might; and have been enlightened with power: "Do you, who are the Brightness of the Father, of His Essence and his Nature the Express and Immutable Image, the Fountain of Wisdom and of Grace, open the lips of me, a sinner, and teach me in what manner and for what needs I ought to pray; for you know the great multitude of my sins, but your loving-kindness shall overcome the enormity of them. For lo, I stand in awe before you, and have cast into the great deep of your mercy the despair of my soul. Govern my life, O you who governs all creation by a word, with the unutterable might of your wisdom, O tranquil Haven of the storm-tossed; and make known unto me the way in which I should walk. Grant unto my understanding the spirit of your wisdom, bestowing upon my ignorance the spirit of your understanding. "Overshadow my deeds with the spirit of your fear, and renew a right spirit within me; and by your sovereign Spirit make stable the instability of my thoughts. That being daily guided by your good Spirit in that which is profitable for me, I may be enabled to keep they statutes, and ever bear in mind your glorious Coming-again, and those things worthy of torment which I have committed. And give me not over to be led astray by the corrupt pleasures of this present world, but strengthen in me the desire to strive for the treasures to come. For you have said, O Master: whatsoever a person shall ask in your Name, that shall he freely receive from your God and Father, who is from everlasting. Wherefore, I also, a sinner, at this descent of your Holy Spirit, do entreat your goodness, that you will grant me whatsoever things I have asked which are unto salvation. "Yea, O Lord, the bounteous Giver of every benefit, and the Distributor of blessings - for it is you who gives most beautifully unto those who ask of you - you are pitiful and gracious, and also was made a partaker of our flesh, yet without sin, and inclines your ear with infinite loving-kindness unto those who bow the knee before you; who, also, was made the Propitiation for our sins. Wherefore, O Lord, grant your bounties unto they people. Hearken unto us from your Holy Heaven. Sanctify us by the saving might of your right hand. Cover us with the shelter of your wings; and despise not the work of your hands. Unto you alone have we sinned, but you alone do we serve. "We know not to adore a strange god, neither have we stretched out our hand, O Lord, unto any other god. Pardon our iniquities, and accept this our prayer, which we make unto you on bended knees. Extend unto us all the hand of your aid. Receive the petitions of all people, as it were incense well-pleasing, acceptable before your all-blessed kingdom." - This prayer can be found in the Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church; compiled, translated, and arranged by Isabel Florence Hapgood; printed by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 6th ed., 1983, p. 252. #JesusChrist #HolyTrinity #HolySpirit #Father #Grace #Apostles #luminousdarkness #Divinity #Evil #VocalPrayer #MeditativePrayer #PrayerAgainstEvil #IntercessoryPrayer #Faith #Peace #Repentance #Wisdom #Catharsis #KneelingPrayers

This is a vocal prayer, which is added in after the reading of the First Kneeling Prayer on Pentecost. It, too, gives us much to meditate on (the bold type is added to assist you in meditation). Notice the natural imagery; the appeal to mercy, love, and forgiveness; the desire to be closer to God; the call for protection; the need to be saved from the enemy; and the removal of chaos. This is an excellent prayer to help us with Theoria. "Blessed art thou, O Lord, Master Almighty, who hast illumined the day with the light of the sun, and has made bright the night with the brilliant flashes of the lightning; who hast graciously enabled us to pass through the long day, and to draw near to the beginning of the night. Hear our petitions, and the petitions of all your people, and granting pardon unto us for all our sins, both voluntary and involuntary, accept our evening prayers, and send down the multitude of your mercy and your bounties upon you inheritance. Guard us with your Holy Angels. Arm us with the armor of your righteousness. Encompass us round about with the ramparts of your truth. Guard us by your might. Deliver us from every assault, and from every treacherous plot of the adversary, and grant unto us that this present evening and the approaching night, and all the days of our life, may be perfect, holy, peaceful, sinless, without stumbling, untroubled of dreams; through the prayers of the holy Birth-giver of God, and of all the Saints, who, in all the ages, have been acceptable in your sight." - This prayer can be found in the Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic Church; compiled, translated, and arranged by Isabel Florence Hapgood; printed by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 6th ed., 1983, p. 250. #VocalPrayer #MeditativePrayer #Mercy #Love #Forgiveness #Chaos #Lord #God #MotherofGod #Angels #Unity #KneelingPrayers