Have Your Read...

Monastic Practices, by Charles Cummings, OCSO? If not, pick up a copy. This is the book that will be my Lenten discipline. I've had it for some time, and even read it, but now it's time to turn it into Lectio.

While skimming through it I noticed chapter 4, "Short Prayers." St. Augustine of Hippo wrote about it. Much Eastern Orthodox mysticism is built upon the practice of short prayers...and seriously, this is what they are called...aspirations and ejaculations.

Here's a rather long list of possible prayers. They are called seven-syllable prayers.

1. Kyrie eleison.
2. Maranatha, O Lord come!
3. Lord Jesus, praised be your name.
4. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
5. Jesus Healer, make me whole.
6. Lord, give me a heart of flesh.
7. Free me for your love, O Lord. (my favorite on the list)
8. Father, Jesus, Spirit -- One.
9. Jesus, I submit to you.
10. May your presence give me peace.

You may also use single words, phrases, or even, as The Cloud of Unknowing says, a single syllable. Cummings gives a how-to form making your own. And that is where he gets most interesting. First, what he has to say.

The prayer should be personally meaningful and satisfying, and should emphasize praise, love, healing, redemption.

That is a great deal of meaning to fit into basic seven-syllable prayers. To form a prayer like, one must be in touch themselves, and God within. Then we begin to be sensitive enough to discern the subtle movements of the Holy Spirit.

It's all just another way to remember to "pray always."