A priest's advice to a new catechumen: pray with attention, not with more words
What the video says
A catechumen shares the advice his priest gave him a little over a month into becoming Orthodox. The priest told him not to worry about increasing the quantity of prayers, but to pray with attention, perseverance, and a heart turned toward God. He may add the Jesus Prayer at certain times of day without worrying about the number of repetitions, or simply remain in silence before God for a few minutes.
The catechumen passes the advice on and asks others what best advice they have received from their priest.
Key moments
- The priest's advice: do not worry about increasing the quantity of prayers; what matters is praying with attention, perseverance, and a heart turned toward God.
- At certain times of day one may add the Jesus Prayer, 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,' without becoming overly concerned with the number of repetitions.
- Another option is to remain in silence before God for a few minutes, since we do not always need words; abiding in God's presence with attention and recollection is a profound form of prayer.
- Do not rush to expand your rule of prayer; continue faithfully with what you are doing, and when you feel the desire, add spiritual reading, the Jesus Prayer, a few minutes of silence, or spontaneous prayer.
- The life of prayer grows little by little; the point is not to pray more things but for our whole life to gradually become communion with God.
- He asks viewers what the best advice they have received from their priest is.
Tim, a catechumen of the Greek Orthodox Church, shares the advice his priest gave him a little over a month after he began his path into Orthodoxy. The priest told him not to worry about increasing the quantity of his prayers. What matters is praying with attention, perseverance, and a heart turned toward God.
The priest offered practical options for someone who wants to grow. At certain times of day one may add the Jesus Prayer, 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,' without becoming concerned with the number of repetitions. Another option is to remain in silence before God for a few minutes, since we do not always need words; abiding in God's presence with attention and recollection is itself a form of prayer.
The priest also warned against rushing to expand one's rule of prayer. He said to continue faithfully with what you are already doing, and when you feel the desire, add spiritual reading, the Jesus Prayer, a few minutes of silence, or spontaneous prayer. The life of prayer grows little by little, and the point is not to pray more things but for our whole life to gradually become communion with God.
Tim introduces himself as someone almost two decades into fitness, partly competitive, and the builder of his own business, and he shares his learnings and obstacles as he moves toward Orthodoxy. He closes by asking others what best advice they have received from their priest, and gives thanks with the words 'All praise to the Lord. Amen.'
Main points
- The priest's advice: do not worry about increasing the quantity of prayers; what matters is attention, perseverance, and a heart turned toward God.
- One may add the Jesus Prayer, 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,' at set times of day without counting repetitions.
- Another option is a few minutes of silence before God, since we do not always need words.
- Do not rush to expand your prayer rule; add spiritual reading, the Jesus Prayer, silence, or spontaneous prayer when you feel the desire.
- Prayer grows little by little; the goal is for the whole life to become communion with God.