On Prayer - Saint Paisios the Athonite
Spiritual Counsels VI
In the previous five volumes of the series, The
Spiritual Counsels of Elder Paisios, there are many references to the
subject of prayer, since the Elder held prayer to be his primary work
throughout the course of his perfection as a monk. However, even in his
communication with people, both monks and laity, he always aimed at
helping them to entrust their life to God through prayer. This volume,
published with the blessing of our Chief-Shepherd, His Eminence
Nicodemos, Metropolitan of Kassandreia, comprises counsels of the Elder,
which are specifically on the subject of prayer.
For Elder
Paisios, prayer is the immeasurable potential which God has given us in
order to communicate with Him, and ask for His help. The Elder actually
felt pain when he observed people suffering as they struggled “with
their limited human capabilities”, when they could have asked for help
from God, Who “would have sent not simply divine help, but a whole
variety of divine assistance; and then, of course, His help would not be
called simply divine help, but a miracle of God”. It was why he had
insisted that we understand prayer to be a necessity and earnestly
sought to help those who had not learned to pray ‘to make a start in
order to get their heart working on prayer”. He also strengthened those
who had acquired the good habit of praying to pray with even more
philotimo and greater fervour. To everyone, however, he emphasized
repentance and humility as the main prerequisites for communication with
God.
Pages: 328
Size: 14 x 21 cm.
