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Dear Parish Faithful,
From the book Wisdom of the Divine Philosophers, here are some words about prayer from the Holy Fathers and saints of the Church:
"As our body cannot live without breathing, so our soul cannot keep alive without knowing the Creator; for the ignorance of God is the death of the soul." ~ St. Basil the Great
"Exhort yourself, force yourself, to prayer and every good work, however contrary be your inclination. As a lazy horse, driven by a whip, is compelled by man to walk and to trot, even so must we coerce ourselves into performing every kind of labor, and how much more, to pray. God, beholding your efforts and your labor, will grant you zeal and inclination. Habit of itself creates the inclination, and, it might be said, attracts us toward prayer and good deeds." ~ St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
"Do not pray for the fulfillment of your wishes, for they may not accord with the will of God. But pray as you have been taught, saying: Thy will be done in me (LK. 22:42). Always entreat Him in this way that His will be done. For He desires what is good and profitable for you, whereas you do not always ask for this." ~ Evagrios the Solitary
"Prayers at home are an introduction, a preparation for prayers in Church. Thus he who is not accustomed to pray at home can seldom pray diligently in Church. Experience bears witness to this: anyone can observe it for himself." ~ St. John of Kronstadt
