“I prefer a rule that is not long but is constantly
observed to a long on that is given up after a short while”
Prayer Books & Prayer Rules: What I Wish I Had Known
In the coming weeks, I’ll be focusing on building a comprehensive resource section about Orthodox prayer books here on Orthodox-Resources.com. My goal is simple: to provide you with all the information I wish I had when I first began acquiring these spiritual treasures.
The Importance of a Humble Prayer Rule
Recently, I came across a deeply moving YouTube video that perfectly articulates something I’ve learned through experience – that the prayer rule is for the person, not the other way around.
The video features a reading from the spiritual fathers about establishing a prayer rule that perfectly balances humility with consistency. What struck me most was the warning about choosing a rule beyond our strength – how initial enthusiasm can lead to exhaustion, then reduction, then doubt, and finally abandonment of prayer altogether.
As the text so wisely states: “Having chosen for yourself a prayer rule in keeping with your strength and spiritual needs, try and keep this rule with all due care and constantly.” This maintenance of our spiritual discipline is compared to taking “every day at certain hours a sufficient amount of healthy food to maintain your bodily strength.”
The Danger of Spiritual Pride
The wisdom continues with a caution that resonates deeply with me. Our prayer rule should “help man attain spiritual perfection and not be a cumbersome burden crushing man’s bodily strength and tempting the soul, nor should it ever give grounds for pernicious arrogant pride or for ruinous condemnation and humiliation of fellow men.”
How often have I fallen into the trap of comparing my spiritual practices with others, either feeling superior or inferior? This teaching reminds us that prayer is not a competition but a relationship.
Coming Soon: Prayer Book Reviews
In the coming days, I’ll be cataloging and reviewing various Orthodox prayer books that have accompanied me on my journey. For each, I plan to cover:
- Content overview and organization
- Translation quality and readability
- Physical quality (binding, paper, etc.)
- Portability and usability
- Specific prayers or sections I’ve found particularly meaningful
- Recommendations for different spiritual needs and situations
My hope is that these reviews will help you find the right prayer companion without the trial and error I experienced.
Remember the Purpose
As we consider these resources, let’s remember the warning from St. Isaac the Syrian shared in the video: “It is not for abandoning Psalms that we shall be judged by God on His judgment day, not for abandoning prayer, but for the entry of demons into us which follows.” Our prayer rules are meant to be protective walls, not burdens.
The spiritual fathers tell us that even the greatest saints who “remained in a state of prayer from an abundance of God’s grace did not discontinue their rules of prayer.” St. Anthony the Great and St. Sergius of Radonezh both received divine visions while faithfully observing their regular prayer rules.
A Final Thought
The video concludes with a beautiful paradox about spiritual freedom. By submitting our freedom to the rule, we find true spiritual freedom – freedom in Christ. “At the beginning the chains may appear heavy, but later on they will become precious for the one who wears them.”
As I document these prayer resources in the coming weeks, I hope we can all keep this wisdom at the center of our approach to prayer books and prayer rules. The goal isn’t to collect spiritual trophies but to find sustainable, humble ways to commune with God daily.