“The Hidden Man of the Heart” (Pt 5)

Building up the heart by vigilance and prayer

Vigilance = watchfulness of mind

You should regulate your attitude toward God at the beginning of the day.

Exercise self-restraint and patience during prayer = helps direct the intellect.

Three types of prayer:
1) said aloud
2) of the mind
3) of the mind in the heart

The Jesus Prayer is based on a revealed relationship with the Holy Trinity … other prayers/paths not so based.

Divestiture of the world is only half of the model.
Constant vesting of the soul with the grace of God [is the other half].

God showed His love through offering His pain and suffering.
Man can reciprocate by offering to God his pain and suffering.

When we are unmindful of God, the Enemy slays us.

The Fathers say: Forgetfulness of God = the greatest Passion.

Part One.

Part Two.

Part Three.

Part Four.

These terse notes were taken during the annual Clergy Retreat for the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America, February 6-9, 2007. The retreat was led by Archimandrite Zacharias of the Stavropegic Monastery of St John the Baptist in Tolleshunt Knights-by-Maldon, Essex, U.K. These are my notes and were filtered through my poor faculties. Any and all errors theological are mine. Forgive me.

UPDATE: Listen to the entire talk — CDs now available!