How many of us read the morning and evening prayer rule? In the mornings, there is not enough time: until you wake up, you send your homework to study or work. Here, we already have to run to work ourselves.
And in the evening you get so tired that you no longer have any strength. Only cross yourself and ask God for blessings for the coming dream.
This is all clear: fatigue and human weakness take their toll. But God does not forget to wake us up in the morning. Why are we lazy to thank him for this and for his day?
But what about those who have absolutely, really not enough time? Read the Seraphim rule for the laity.
What it is?
Rev. Seraphim of Sarov left the prayer rule. It was intended for the sisters of the Diveevo monastery. This was explained by the fact that novices and nuns have the opportunity to visit the temple more often than ordinary lay people.
The nuns of the monastery are always busy. And there is not enough time even more than the people of the world. Nevertheless, the Seraphim rule for the laity somehow imperceptibly found itself outside the monastery. And now those people who do not have enough time for long prayers are resorting to it.
No time or laziness?
It is worthwhile to resort to the short rule of Serafim Sarovsky for the laity in case of emergency, and not because it is too lazy to read morning and evening prayers.
The Holy Fathers said that one must force oneself to prayer. Spiritual life consists of compulsion. Otherwise, if you allow yourself to be lazy, there will be no spirituality. Before the Lord, labor is valuable.
There is another side to prayer. In the state of prayer there is a special joy, for the sake of which sometimes I want to give up everything. This joy is inner, and therefore people go to monasteries to pray there. If there were no spiritual joy from prayer, it would hardly have been possible to withstand the harsh monastic charters.
About attention
It is the soul of prayer. And what attention will depend on what the prayer will be. If a person is attentive in life, then in prayer he will not be "scattered by the mind." What kind of an attentive person is he? 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 deduct it due to time or illness, he will carefully read the short Seraphim rule for the laity.
What is the rule?
The Monk Seraphim left, as mentioned above, the prayer rule for the inhabitants of the Diveevo monastery.
What is this Seraphim rule for the laity? What is it like? Now it is generally accepted that you need to read the prayer “Our Father” three times, three times “Virgin Mary, Hail” and three times “Symbol of Faith”.
And here is what the old man bequeathed. After awakening, a person should face the icons. First, Our Father is read three times in honor of the Trinity. Then, “Hail Mary, Hail”, also thrice. And once the "Symbol of Faith".
After reverently making a brief rule, the layman sets about his business.
If a person is busy with household chores or works physically, you need to read the Jesus Prayer “to yourself”. To yourself means in your mind.
It's lunch time. Before him, a person was performing Jesus prayer. Now, before sitting down at the table, he will again fulfill the morning prayer rule. Three times read "Our Father" and "Virgin Virgin, Rejoice." Once - “Creed”.
After lunch, I should say a prayer to the Virgin Mary "Blessed Virgin Mary, save me the sinful (sinful)." And so on until the evening.
Before going to bed, the Christian again reads the morning rule. He goes to sleep, guarding himself with the sign of the Cross.
Faith and family are inseparable: the Seraphim rule for the laity can be read by agreement. Like this? Each family member recites one or two prayers from the rule.
It’s completely impossible to execute it? Serafim Sarovsky recommended reading the rule everywhere: whether you are walking down the street, doing business, or lying in bed due to illness. As the reverend said, this rule is the foundation of Christianity. And reading it, you can achieve the absolute perfection of Christianity.
Beginner Tips
How to pray at home? A few short tips for those who are just starting their Christian journey.
- Woke up? Have you washed your face? We stand in front of the icons. Having blessed ourselves with the sign of the Cross, we thank the Lord for awakening in our own words. And we begin to read the morning prayer rule. Or Serafimovo rule for the laity, the text of which is on the video.
- A woman prays with her head covered not only in the church. At home there should be a scarf for prayer.
- Men do not cover their heads.
- If there are children in the family, then girls should wear a handkerchief. Boys, like dad, do not need a headdress.
- After making 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 Seraphim, go to bed.
- While reading the evening rule, it is advisable to read the prayer “May 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. It all starts small. And prayer is no exception.