This Lent on Friday evenings I am offering a teaching series called “The Wonder of Prayer.” It explores key facets of the prayer life. Last night was the third session.

The audio of the talk is above. The two parts of this second session are

* What is Prayer? (a review)

* The Threefold Regula — the Rule of the Church

* Penitence and Petition

We review prayer as such as well as the threefold Regula (the Rule of the Church). Then we look at the four characteristics of true prayer—reviewing Adoration and Thanksgiving and introducing Penitence and Petition.

What is Prayer?

Combining the doctrines of prayer by S. John of Damascus and Father Martin Thornton yields a composite definition of prayer:

Prayer is spiritual activity: our lifting up of the heart and mind to the living God – anything we do which is conditioned by conscious relationship with Him, a relationship which is continuous, whether or not it is recognized or articulated.

PENITENCE AND PETITION

1. Julian of NorwichRevelations of Divine Love, chapter 5

We need to have in our knowing the littleness of creatures and to hold as naught (“nothing”) all-things that are made, so that we can love our God Who is unmade. For this is the cause as to why we are not at east in our heart and soul: that we seek here rest in those things that are so little, in which there is no rest, and do not know that our God is Almighty, all-wise, and all-good. For He is the true Rest. God wills Himself to be known, and it pleases Him that we rest in Him. This is the cause why no soul can rest: it cannot rest until it is made nought as to all things that are made. When we willingly see ourselves as nought, and that this is how we love God and see Him as all in all, and we are able to receive true spiritual rest from God and in God.

2. Julian of Norwich

God, of Thy goodness, give me Thyself:for Thou art enough to me,and I may ask nothing that is lessthat may be full worship to Thee;and if I ask anything that is less,ever me be in want – for only in Thee I have all.

3. Confession of Sin from the Book of Common Prayer

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

Silence may be kept.

Almighty God,Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,maker of all things, judge of all men:We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness,which we from time to time most grievously have committed,by thought, word, and deed, against thy divine Majesty,provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.We do earnestly repent,and are heartily sorry for these our misdoings;the remembrance of them is grievous unto us,the burden of them is intolerable.Have mercy upon us,have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;for thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ's sake,forgive us all that is past;and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in newness of life,to the honor and glory of thy Name;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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