Catechetical Teaching 3. ON HOME PRAYER
If our first exhortation was about fasting, then the second naturally calls for a discussion on prayer. Christ Himself inseparably connects these two virtues: “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). What kind is He referring to? Certainly, He speaks of demons that possess us through our passions. Therefore, in the practical and active life of a Christian, fasting and prayer hold great importance. Neither prayer without fasting bears fruit, nor fasting without prayer, but they must always go together.
There are two types of prayer – Church (common) and home (private). And these two prayers are interconnected. If a person does not pray at home, if they lack the habit of prayer, then when they come to Church, they cannot pray there either. That is, a person comes to Church to participate in the common prayer, but they have nothing to contribute. They have gained nothing at home because they did not pray. And so, they leave the Church with nothing. Therefore, everything begins with our personal rule of prayer at home. Just as a student does not communicate with their teacher, so a Christian, if they do not have communion with Christ, is not truly a Christian, but only bears the name of a Christian. Prayer is communion with God, an expression of our love for Him. The first commandment states: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). Above all, this is a commandment about prayer.
So, every Christian should have a personal rule of prayer at home. It would be good to dedicate a tenth of the day, that is, two and a half hours a day, for communion with God through prayer, reading the Holy Scriptures, and the writings of the Holy Fathers. But I fear that most of us do not even offer a tithe of our material possessions to the church, let alone manage this tithe of love. Lord, where does all our time and all our resources go if we cannot even bring one-tenth to You? I suspect they are spent on leisure, entertainment, and other worldly pursuits. Oh Lord, have mercy on us and help us turn our hearts away from the world and direct them towards You!
If we cannot yet dedicate two and a half hours to God, let us dedicate whatever we can. Let us devote an hour, or at least half an hour… And let us always remember that usually, as much time and effort as one invests, that’s how much they receive in return. As Father Ephraim the iconographer from the Panteleimon Monastery used to joke: “As much money as you put in, that’s how much beer you get.” But we are talking about spiritual beer (in Church Slavonic word “beer” means also “drink” and is used in Church Paschal Canon: “Come, let us drink a new beverage”), about the grace of God. “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully”, writes Paul (2 Corinthians 9:6).
Home prayer is a personal encounter with God. And although it is important for certain prayers to be said together as a family, involving children in this common prayer, because the family is a little church, at the same time, each individual needs to find time for personal communion with God in solitude. When Christ says, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret” (Matthew 6:6), He is precisely referring to home prayer, to meeting with God one-on-one. Without such communion, connection with Christ is impossible. And without being united with Him, no one can become a participant in His resurrection, that is, be saved.
What should a personal rule of prayer at home be like? What should its duration be in your specific life situation? It is best to seek advice from a priest regarding this. The main thing is that this rule should be a living communion with God, from the depths of the heart, and not a mechanical and routine recitation of prescribed prayers. How to achieve this? The priest will guide you. But first and foremost, one must start fulfilling their rule without laziness and negligence, strictly observing discipline. If we want to have God in the first place in our lives, as we are commanded, then everything related to Him must be sacred to us—fulfilling our personal rule, attending church, and observing fasts.
Next time, we will talk a little more about Church prayer.
May God bless you all!