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rciadan
Guest
How does one use a prayer rope. Is it similar to a rosary? What prayers do you say?
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ThatOneGuy92
Guest
The prayer rope is an aide to prayer. It helps one concentrate, and to not loose focus. Whether this be in the manner of saying X number of prayers, or something to just grasp onto to keep one’s self anchored in prayer.
So, in that sense it is similar to a rosary. However, there are no “prescribed” prayers to say. The most common, however, is the Jesus Prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a poor sinner.”
Or variations thereof.
The most common prayer rule (as the prayer rope developed out of desert monasticism, and monks finding a rule in conjunction with their spiritual father/mother) that I am aware of the Rule of St. Pachomius. Do a simple Google search, and it should give you the rule in it’s entirety. Although, it should be noted again, that this rule can be adjusted according to each person’s need.
I would say if you haven’t, look at Phillip’s website. He has some good info on prayer ropes, as well as prayer in general.
I will leave it to those more knowledgeable and experienced then myself to fill in any gaps I have left.
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Padraig1972
Guest
Does this mean like with fasting (as just a set example) that the use of a prayer rope (chotki, is it not?) should be instructed by your spiritual father-advisor? Or can any christian (catholic, non-catholic, non-orthodox or just orthodox) pray it with some advice in advance?
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rciadan
Guest
If I already have a rosary, could I just use it instead of buying a prayer rope?
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hazcompat
Guest
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Padraig1972
Guest
Many thanks.
If the Jesus prayer could be prayed on a rosary? Not sure as the rosary is a western rite tradition mostly, but the chotki is often connected to the orthodox and then the eastern traditions.
Personally: i would try to get a chotki. But that is just this simple, unworthy and sinful`s personal opinion.
If the Jesus prayer could be prayed on a rosary? Not sure as the rosary is a western rite tradition mostly, but the chotki is often connected to the orthodox and then the eastern traditions.
Personally: i would try to get a chotki. But that is just this simple, unworthy and sinful`s personal opinion.
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
The Eastern/Byzantine attitude towards the prayer rope is somewhat different from the Western attitude. Although it is certainly used to count the number of times we say the Jesus Prayer - Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me (a sinner) - it’s primary purpose is as an aid to help us focus our attention, to give our hands something to do while we’re praying. So, unlike the rosary, there is a sense that we can just sort of pick up a prayer rope and pray with it for as long or as short as we like, without any set number of prayers that we say.
That being said, as I mentioned before it is also used to actually count the number of Jesus Prayers we say. If we follow a prayer rule, like the Rule of St. Pachomius, or if we pray the Jesus Prayer to replace the Liturgy of the Hours, then it is necessary to count how many times we pray the Prayer. Certain spiritual fathers/directors will also sometimes assign their directees a prayer rule consisting of a certain number of repetitions. In the Way of the Pilgrim I believe the author’s spiritual father had him pray 1200, then 3000, then 6000 Jesus Prayers a day until the Prayer had established itself in his heart and there become continuous.
One does not need a prayer rope in order to pray the Jesus Prayer, and using a Roman rosary is a perfectly acceptable means of keeping track of how many times you’ve prayed the prayer. But often times folks find they’d prefer to have a prayer rope instead of a rosary. That’s really a matter of personal preference.
ICXC + NIKA,
Phillip
That being said, as I mentioned before it is also used to actually count the number of Jesus Prayers we say. If we follow a prayer rule, like the Rule of St. Pachomius, or if we pray the Jesus Prayer to replace the Liturgy of the Hours, then it is necessary to count how many times we pray the Prayer. Certain spiritual fathers/directors will also sometimes assign their directees a prayer rule consisting of a certain number of repetitions. In the Way of the Pilgrim I believe the author’s spiritual father had him pray 1200, then 3000, then 6000 Jesus Prayers a day until the Prayer had established itself in his heart and there become continuous.
One does not need a prayer rope in order to pray the Jesus Prayer, and using a Roman rosary is a perfectly acceptable means of keeping track of how many times you’ve prayed the prayer. But often times folks find they’d prefer to have a prayer rope instead of a rosary. That’s really a matter of personal preference.
ICXC + NIKA,
Phillip
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Phillip_Rolfes
Guest
Rosaries are simply means of counting prayers, much like the prayer rope, the mequtaria, or the meditation/prayer beads in the non-Christian traditions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. Within the Roman tradition the rosary beads are used to pray various chaplets other than the Dominican rosary. The most familiar one is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, although I know there are other chaplets and devotions that are prayed on a rosary as well. So it’d be perfectly acceptable to pray the Jesus Prayer on a rosary. In fact, the chotki is sometimes simply called a rosary by both Eastern Catholics and Orthodox here in Western countries.Many thanks.
If the Jesus prayer could be prayed on a rosary? Not sure as the rosary is a western rite tradition mostly, but the chotki is often connected to the orthodox and then the eastern traditions.
Personally: i would try to get a chotki. But that is just this simple, unworthy and sinful`s personal opinion.
But you’re right. It is really a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer to pray the Jesus Prayer using a prayer rope/chotki. For me the prayer rope has a different feel from a rosary and helps establish a different rhythm of prayer. The fact that I also make them makes it very easy and inexpensive for me to obtain one.
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hazcompat
Guest
This little gem from our master beadsman is either on my left wrist or in my left pocket. If I put my hands in my pockets I start The Jesus Prayer as neat as you please. There are many fruits of this practice.
peace
peace
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Padraig1972
Guest
What a beautiful gem. I would love to get one like that and pray with it some day.
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ThatOneGuy92
Guest
The use of the rope is an aide to prayer, and it is perfectly fine to use it without “being instructed” by one’s spiritual adviser. For example: I am currently a Lutheran who prays the Jesus Prayer, and uses a prayer rope. I have not had any special guidance; rather, I have read some articles, some books, and talked to some monks. The Jesus Prayer is for all who profess to Christian, because its focus is the Gospel message:
Lord-The acknowledgement that we are directing our prayers to the LORD. That we are praying to the reigning Creator: the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jesus- This tells who we are identifying as LORD, and to whom we are crying out to. This follows the ancient confession of “Jesus as LORD”, and that we are identifying Jesus of Nazareth with the God of Israel.
Christ- Christ, Greek for Messiah, “the LORD’s anointed”. The acknowledgement that Jesus is the very Messiah of promise, tracing all the way back to the covenant made by God to Adam and Eve. That God would provide a savior to “crush the head of the serpent”. This also reflects that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the other redeemers anointed by God, and indeed all God’s anointed (prophets, priests, and kings) and the whole of Israel (a nation consecrated to the LORD).
Son of God- The acknowledgement that this Messiah Jesus is not only LORD, but also Son of God. This shows that even as Jesus is man, so to He is God. This also shows the unity between the Father and the Son (“I in He, and He in I; the Father and I are One”).
have mercy on me (a poor sinner)- The constant cry of God’s people, and of all who repent. The acknowledgement that we are indeed in the wrong, and that we are in need of salvation, and that we can do nothing but rely on the mercy of God. This also affirms the mercy of God, for over and over it is spoken that God is merciful; and, given the previous confession concerning Jesus, that God’s mercy is to be found only in Jesus.
This all being said, we must be careful not to fall into delusion (prelest). If you wish to advance along into deeper prayer, that is where the spiritual father comes into play. Of course, I cannot give any advice on this count. If you feel you need to speak to one, however, then do so; it cannot hurt.
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