Venerable Sophrony Sakharov was the one who edited and printed the writings of St. Siluan Athonite and can measure only one who reached this very special spiritual father of 20th century. Dweller First Holy Mountain Athos and then to Britain, where he founded the famous monastery “St. John the Baptist” in Essex, Reverend Sophrony Sakharov left us more guidance about prayer that is useful for beginners and hence for the young it is the beginning of their spiritual life.
One of the most profound ideas emerging from this work is on Sakharov Sophrony Father prayer as a form of creation. Of course, being accustomed to learn and use our prayers of the Holy Fathers, it seems perhaps dangerous this practice of praying with our own words. What should be first of all is that one never replace another. We pray using Psalter, prayer books, Akathists which glorify lives of the saints, but equally, we must learn to pray with our own words. There are situations at work, in traffic, at home when you have a lot of work that requires sincere prayer, made from the heart, without many words, but with experience and feeling. Then our prayer is one that comes from the overflow of the heart, not just a recitation. Also, when we feel the need to thank the Lord for something, not necessarily appeal to an unsettled Thanksgiving, but we pray from the heart with our words. Therefore, for every man, prayer is the highest form of creation. Father Sophrony tells us: “Prayer is an infinite creation, the supreme art. Again and again, we feel a fiery rush to God, followed only by a fall in His light Again and again, we become aware of infirmity of mind to stand up to him. There are times when we feel the edge of madness. “You gave us the commandment to love, but not in my power to love. Come and commits everything you commanded me: for thy commandments surpasses my powers. My mind is too weak to You understand you. My spirit can not see the mysteries of Your will. My days pass in endless strife. Am I tormented by the fear of losing because of bad thoughts in my heart ‘ “(Archimandrite. Sophrony Sakharov,” Prayer – the experience of eternal life “, Sibiu, Ed. Deisis, p. 84).
Prayer, the ultimate freedom
Whether you’re a slave or free man, rich or poor, sick or healthy, a man of high position or a simple man, your ultimate form of freedom and equality with other people is manifested in prayer. Who does not pray is a slave, no matter how rich, healthy and happy as apparently because he actually is a servant of the passions. This continues liberation from slavery passions occurs mainly through passionate and sincere prayer to God. Attacking thoughts come upon us burdens we put all sorts of obstacles, they err astray, but prayer frees us, enlightens us spiritually, helping us on our way delicate spiritual life with Christ. But this freedom comes with a price: “Prayer requires experience spiritual freedom that most people ignore. The first sign of emancipation is waiving impose our will on others. The second is an inner liberation from the power that others have over us. Temperance desire to dominate is an important milestone, closely followed by displeasure to coerce him our brother.
Man is made in the image of God who is humble and at the same time free “(Archimandrite. Sophrony Sakharov,” Prayer – the experience of eternal life “, pp. 96-97). Thus, the man who gradually release passions excesses realizes that he made with his own freedom. If you want to impose your own will all the time, then of course you have a fundamental problem that keeps the passion of pride, the mistress of your inner life in this case. “In our prayer we fight clean minds and hearts of any urge to dominion over our brother. The love of power is death to the soul. […] If we surrender pride, all the work by us to the Jesus Prayer will not only be a profanation of his name “(Archimandrite. Sophrony Sakharov,” Prayer – the experience of eternal life “, p. 161).
However, just praying realize what power others have over you which influences are good and which are bad, which ones ought to cultivate and that must pluck from your heart before you poison. But perhaps the most important thing that you realize when we pray is that God never compels us. Before working within us, God asks us consent, because without our free will, He can do nothing but wait in our hearts when we feel ready to meet Him. Many say that they have seen God work in their lives, but that is really the truth? I saw it or saw it and chose to ignore it, or worse, it criticizes? “We should not expect God to compel us without our consent. God respects and does it compel humans. It’s amazing how God humbles himself before us. He loves us with a love affectionate, not tall, not condescendingly. And when we open our hearts to Him, we are overwhelmed by the conviction that He is indeed our Father. Then the soul adore in love “(Archimandrite. Sophrony Sakharov,” Prayer – the experience of eternal life “, pp. 64-65).
Prayer, humility accomplished
Father often emphasize the importance of humility Sophrony Sakharov in spiritual life, because this virtue is actually the one that gives depth and consistency prayer. The proud prayer is full of dry, haunted by thoughts, superficial, while the humble prayer has perhaps many words, but full of watchfulness, fruitful and also rises with good smell incense before the Lord. “The more humble is our view of ourselves, the easier our prayer ascends to God. As soon as we lose humility, any ascetic effort is canceled. If pride, criticism or unfriendly working in us, the Lord is away from us. We come to God as the worst of sinners. We condemn ourselves at all. Do not look for nothing but forgiveness and mercy. We condemn ourselves to Hell. And this is our permanent state. We ask God to help us grieve not the Holy Spirit through our passions, nor to injure our brothers. Do not look for special gifts from above. With all our strength trying to grasp the true significance of Christ’s commandments and live according to them “(Archimandrite. Sophrony Sakharov,” Prayer – the experience of eternal life “, pp. 167-168).
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