How many of us read the morning and evening prayer rule? In the mornings, there is not enough time: until you wake up, you will send home to study or work. Here you already have to run to work yourself.
And in the evening you get so tired that you no longer have any strength. Just cross yourself and ask God for blessings for the coming dream.
It's all clear: fatigue and human weakness take their toll. But God does not forget to wake us up in the morning. Why are we too lazy to thank him for this and for the day?
And what about those who have very, very little time? Read Seraphim's rule for the laity.
What is this?
Reverend Seraphim of Sarov left the prayer rule. It was intended for the sisters of the Diveevsky monastery. This was explained by the fact that novices and nuns have the opportunity to go to church much more often than ordinary laity.
The nuns of the monastery have a lot to do all the time. And time is even more scarce than the people of the world. Nevertheless, Seraphim's rule for the laity somehow imperceptibly found itself outside the monastery. And now those people who do not have enough time for long prayers resort to it.
No time or laziness?
The short rule of Seraphim of Sarov for the laity should be resorted to in case of emergency, and not because they are too lazy to read morning and evening prayers.
The Holy Fathers said that you need to force yourself to pray. Spiritual life is made up of compulsion. Otherwise, if you allow yourself to be lazy, there will be no spirituality. Work is valuable before the Lord.
There is another side to prayer. There is a special joy in the state of prayer, for the sake of which one sometimes wants to give up everything. This joy is internal, and that is why people go to monasteries to pray there. If there were no spiritual joy from prayer, it would hardly be possible to endure the harsh monastic regulations.
About attention
It is the soul of prayer. And it depends on attention what kind of prayer will be. If a person is attentive in life, then even in prayer he will not be "scattered by the mind." What is he - an attentive person? The one who treats his life with attention. First of all - to the inside. Such a person will not neglect the rule of prayer because of laziness. If he really cannot subtract it due to time or illness, then he will carefully read the short Seraphim rule for the laity.
What is the rule?
Reverend Seraphimleft, as mentioned above, a prayer rule for the nuns of the Diveevsky monastery.
What is this Seraphim rule for the laity? What does it represent? Now it is generally accepted that you need to read the prayer "Our Father" three times, "Our Lady of the Virgin, rejoice" three times and the "Symbol of Faith" three times.
But what the elder himself bequeathed. After waking up, a person should stand in front of the icons. First, the Our Father is read three times, in honor of the Trinity. Then "Virgin Mother of God, rejoice," also three times. And once "Creed".
After reverently performing the short rule, the layman proceeds to his business.
If a person is busy with household chores or works physically, you need to read the Jesus Prayer to yourself. To myself means in the mind.
It's time for lunch. Before him, man used to say the Jesus Prayer. Now, before sitting at the table, he will again perform the morning prayer rule. He will read "Our Father" and "Our Lady of the Virgin, rejoice" three times each. Once - "Creed".
After dinner, a prayer should be made to the Mother of God "Most Holy Mother of God, save me a sinner (sinner)". And so on until the evening.
Before going to bed, the Christian reads the morning rule again. He goes to sleep, protecting himself with the sign of the cross.
Faith and family are inseparable: Seraphim's rule for the laity can be read by agreement. Like this? Each family member reads one or two prayers from the rule.
Absolutely, completely unable to execute it? Seraphim of Sarov recommended readingthe rule is everywhere: whether you are walking down the street, doing business, or lying in bed due to illness. As the monk said, this rule is the foundation of Christianity. And by reading it, one can reach the absolute perfection of the Christian.
Tips for beginners
How to pray at home? A few short tips for those who are just starting their Christian journey.
Are you awake? Washed up? We stand before the icons. Having overshadowed ourselves with the sign of the cross, we thank the Lord for the awakening in our own words. And we begin to read the morning prayer rule. Or Seraphim's rule for the laity, the text of which is on the video
- A woman prays with her head covered, not only in church. There should be a prayer handkerchief at home.
- Men don't cover their heads.
- If there are children in the family, girls should wear a headscarf. Boys, like dad, do not need a hat.
- After completing the rule, we ask God for blessings for the coming day and go to work (study).
- In the evening we thank the Lord for the day, we read the evening rule or Serafimovo, we go to bed.
- Preferably, while reading the evening rule, read the prayer "Let God rise again" and overshadow all four corners of the room with a cross.
Conclusion
The purpose of the article is to help those people who have just begun their journey to God. Everything starts small. And prayer is no exception.
