THE FIRST TASK BEFORE ATTAINING PURITY OF PRAYER

First, let us look at the obstacle we have to overcome and then examine the preliminaries to success in prayer. And let us use Scriptures as our guide.

Similar to a construction, before we can begin with the preliminaries of construction we must remove the obstacle from the construction site. And this consists in removing our vices, wreck and rubble of passion from the soul.

Then we must build the preliminary foundations of humility.

The monastic ascetical practices are meant to control the passions, the fruits of the fallen nature of man. This is the life of repentance mentioned in Scriptures which contains the elements of prayer, fasting and good works. If done according to the norms Christ laid down, this way of life leads to humility.

With this, the tower of prayer built on this foundation will never crumble, will feel no shock even when the mighty torrents of passion come pouring against it, even when persecution hits it like a battering ram, even when the cruel hurricane of the devil thunders against it.

St. John Cassian

(09-01-02)