Mental prayer, or prayer of the heart, is central to the spiritual tradition of the Orthodox Church. It was developed by the ascetic and hermit monks of the early Christian period, thus becoming a pillar of the practice of hesychasm. It is the most direct form of prayer, as an invocation of the name of Jesus Christ that transcends verbal communication and aims at a mental union with deity.
In this article we will examine what the mental prayer is, why it is so important for the Orthodox Christians, and how it is performed..jpg)
History and Origins
Mental prayer fulfills man's need to communicate with God and to feel His presence in his daily life. It originated from the isolation of the early Christians' life. The hermits of Egypt and Palestine, during the 4th and 5th centuries, were the first to use such form of communication with God. Great fathers of our Church, such as Saint Anthony and Saint Macarius, based their need for purity of mind and concentration on the repetition of the phrase "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me".
The development of mental prayer is also linked to the hesychast tradition. The latter appeared in the monastic communities of Mount Sinai, but also in Mount Athos, where it reached high levels of spiritual progress, bringing out great personalities and saints of our church. The silence observed by the hesychast fathers was the occasion for the development of mental prayer, as the latter strengthened the monks in their effort to isolate external factors and turn unhindered to God, to coordinate their mind and heart with the prayerful word.
During the Byzantine period, hesychasm was further developed. The theoretical discourse that was shaped grounded the practice of the hesychasts in theology. An important figure in the hesychastic tradition was Saint Gregory Palamas (1296-1359), who defended the theological basis of mental prayer, responding to the objections of those who claimed that man could not approach the deity, nor could he unite with God. The Saint argued that, although man cannot grasp the essence of God per se, he can nonetheless unite with Him through His energies, by praying mentally and receiving the uncreated light. After the conciliar validation of his interpretation, mental prayer became widely accepted and became a powerful tool for the concentration and spiritual devotion of all believers.
Theological Approach
The importance of mental prayer has been repeatedly emphasized by the fathers of our Church. In addition to the theological interpretation developed by Saint Gregory Palamas, numerous saints and holy fathers emphasized its value, since the prayer of the heart purifies the mind and brings man closer to God. .jpg)
Silent prayer allows the uninterrupted remembrance of Jesus Christ and the lasting union of man with Him. It is not merely a verbal request, but a spiritual means of man's participation in the divine grace. The simplicity of the prayer enhances mental clarity and aids in the empirical knowledge of God. Where lengthy prayers distract man through their expressive finesse and verbal richness, the mindful prayer of Jesus Christ embraces the core of the prayerful disposition. As Saint Nicodemus the Athonite used to say:
"...the mind is more easily reconciled to it, whereas in other prayers, more extensive and numerous, the mind is scattered."
The foundation of the heart prayer is the use of the name of Jesus Christ. The name of the Lord, much like the symbol of the cross, possesses divine power. Its constant invocation opens the way to divine grace. The Fathers of the Church, such as Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Isaac the Syrian, emphasize that the name of Christ is a weapon of every believer in his struggle against all passions.
Practices of Mental Prayer
The practice of mental prayer is designed to allow the uninterrupted repetition of the prayer words. It is not limited by specific rules and ritual procedures. However, as in every prayer, external and internal calmness facilitates concentration and the conscious invocation of the name of Jesus Christ. In the context of monastic life, the prayer of heart is often associated with the monk's solitude, the penance and the use of the prayer rope.
As for the words repeated by the believers, there are different versions from which one can choose the prayer that best suits him or her. The shortest version is:
"Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me".
The longest one is:
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, through the prayers of the Virgin Mary and of all your saints, have mercy on your sinful and unworthy servant".
The Experience of Mental Prayer in Modern Times.jpg)
Mental prayer does not merely concern monks, but every Orthodox Christian who seeks ways to experience spiritual uplift. It is a great resource that guides and guards an individual at every moment of his or her life. Particularly in the modern age with its ever-increasing rush, a multitude of demands and endless information, man's need for silence and connection with his inner self and with God becomes more and more urgent. Mental prayer comes to soothe stress and anxiety, calm the believer and bring him in touch with the foundation of his very existence.
The mental prayer shapes one's mood and mind. Its simplicity makes it a patristic gift of inestimable value. It is a spiritual treasure that accompanies the believers in the difficulties of modern life. Indeed, many of the modern saints of our Church, such as Saint Paisios and Saint Porphyrios, have persistently taught mental prayer to their spiritual children, emphasizing its beneficial influence.
You are welcome to visit our e-shop to buy prayer ropes made by the Athonite monks with unceasing prayer. It is an important attribute of prayer, as it sets the rhythm and helps one to concentrate during a long prayer.
May the Lord, through the prayers of our patroness, the Holy Mother of God, bless you, your family and all your loved ones!
