From the wisdom of St. Makarios the Great
About how to pray[1]
- Some asked Abba Makarios, saying: how should we pray? The old man said to them: there is no need to talk much, but often to stretch out your hands and say: Lord, as you want and as you know, have mercy! And if there is war on you, say: Lord, help me! And He knows what is useful and has mercy on us.
About humility
- Once again a devil attacked Makarios with a knife, wanting to cut off his leg. And for his humble thought, unable to so, he said to him: as much as you have, we have, only with the humble thought do you differ from us and overcome.
Sin works by habit and conviction[2]
Q30. Entering the human soul, sin has covered the meadows of the soul to its deepest hiding places and has become habit and conviction, which grows in each from infancy, which cultivates and teaches man the evil things.
The foundation of prayer - attention to thoughts and praying in peace and quietness
Q161. The true foundation of prayer is this: to pay attention to your thoughts and to say your prayer in great peace and quiet. The man who prays must direct all his perseverance to the thoughts and stop what gives them food, and with the mind to tend to God, and not to fulfill the desires of the thoughts, but the thoughts that are scattered to be gathered together, distinguishing the natural ones from the evil ones. The soul under sin is like a great forest on a mountain, or a reedbed by the river, or a thicket of thorns and trees; therefore, those who intend to pass through such places must stretch out their hands diligently and with difficulty to remove the branches before them. Thus, the soul is surrounded by a whole forest of thoughts suggested by the opposing power; that is why great care and attention of the mind is required, so that man may distinguish foreign thoughts, suggested by the opposing power. Those who pay attention to their thoughts, the whole askesis for prayers is done inside. Some like them, through their skill and prudence, can increase, overcome the thoughts that rise above them and walk in the will of the Lord.
________
[1] Patericon. Reîntregirea Publishing House: Alba-Iulia 2003
[2] Sbornic. Reîntregirea Publishing House: Alba-Iulia 2000
