Prayer Rope Questions

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landon13

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Hello all,

I have lately been spending more time studying the works of the eastern saints and the prayer rules they have made and are in use with the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.

I have been praying the Jesus prayer in Greek, Latin, and English on my cheap 50 knot prayer rope often and I was wondering how many of y’all do the same? If you pray the Jesus prayer, do you use a prayer rope? How many knots?

Also, when y’all use the Jesus prayer, how many do you pray and for how long during a sitting and do you make prostrations or anything during? Do you pray before your icon corner?

Also, does anyone know about the three steps in praying the Jesus prayer from vocal to mental to prayer of the heart? And how that last step can possibly ever be achieved unless one is an ascetic monk?

There is one last question, I have been looking to upgrade to a 100 or 150 knot prayer rope so if anyone has recommendations for a more inexpensive prayer rope of that size, let me know! 🙂

Thank you and God bless!
 
landon13 said:
Hello all,

I have lately been spending more time studying the works of the eastern saints and the prayer rules they have made and are in use with the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.

I have been praying the Jesus prayer in Greek, Latin, and English on my cheap 50 knot prayer rope often and I was wondering how many of y’all do the same? If you pray the Jesus prayer, do you use a prayer rope? How many knots?

Also, when y’all use the Jesus prayer, how many do you pray and for how long during a sitting and do you make prostrations or anything during? Do you pray before your icon corner?

Also, does anyone know about the three steps in praying the Jesus prayer from vocal to mental to prayer of the heart? And how that last step can possibly ever be achieved unless one is an ascetic monk?

There is one last question, I have been looking to upgrade to a 100 or 150 knot prayer rope so if anyone has recommendations for a more inexpensive prayer rope of that size, let me know! 🙂

Thank you and God bless!
Click to expand...
I also use a 50 knot rope…fits well into my jacket or shirt pocket.

I usually pray when walking, so I don’t restrict myself to a certain number of repetitions…I want my prayer to flow, and not become a burden.

Because I most often pray when walking, I do not prostrate or use icons as a focal point.

I hardly ever vocalize my prayer. “Prayer of the heart” is not difficult. It is just a matter of working the prayer into your breathing pattern…During the inhale “Lord Jesus, Son of God”
during the exhale “have mercy on me a sinner”.

Like I said, because I use mine when walking, I only use a 50 knot rope…but if you want an inexpensive longer rope, have you though of making one yourself? You can buy a nice cord or rope and tie knots into it, or use beads!

Peace and Prayers!
 
I pray the Rule of St. Pachomius on occasion using my 100 knot rope made by the Master Beadsman. I sometimes pray it while walking and other times in adoration.

I am Roman Catholic - the rule linked above contains the filioque and so has been posted in .DOC format for anyone who wants to edit it out. Here are my two handmade Russian style “Rolfes Ropes” from the Master Beadsman.





-Tim-
 
I stopped bothering with the rope when mine vanished - I’d not been blessed to wear it, and it got lost in a move.

I made a simple counting rope for my own use, but stopped using even that, since it’s just as easy for me to use my fingers. (But then I do have to remember how many decades I’ve said.)
 
landon13 said:
Hello all,

I have lately been spending more time studying the works of the eastern saints and the prayer rules they have made and are in use with the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.

I have been praying the Jesus prayer in Greek, Latin, and English on my cheap 50 knot prayer rope often and I was wondering how many of y’all do the same? If you pray the Jesus prayer, do you use a prayer rope? How many knots?

Also, when y’all use the Jesus prayer, how many do you pray and for how long during a sitting and do you make prostrations or anything during? Do you pray before your icon corner?

Also, does anyone know about the three steps in praying the Jesus prayer from vocal to mental to prayer of the heart? And how that last step can possibly ever be achieved unless one is an ascetic monk?

There is one last question, I have been looking to upgrade to a 100 or 150 knot prayer rope so if anyone has recommendations for a more inexpensive prayer rope of that size, let me know! 🙂

Thank you and God bless!
Click to expand...
I’m supposed to do 100 Jesus Prayers with full prostration every day, but I don’t even try anymore - cat seems to pee on the carpet anywhere I move the icon corner to.

Anyway, I simply hold, not count, the prayer rope as I breathe the Jesus Prayer to the rhythm of my heart beats until I fall asleep. And breathe the prayer during the day when I have the chance & remember, but not to the rhythm of my heart because usually in the day I can’t hear or feel my heart beats & usually during the day, I don’t hold the prayer rope while praying.
 
landon13 said:
Hello all,

I have lately been spending more time studying the works of the eastern saints and the prayer rules they have made and are in use with the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches.

I have been praying the Jesus prayer in Greek, Latin, and English on my cheap 50 knot prayer rope often and I was wondering how many of y’all do the same? If you pray the Jesus prayer, do you use a prayer rope? How many knots?

Also, when y’all use the Jesus prayer, how many do you pray and for how long during a sitting and do you make prostrations or anything during? Do you pray before your icon corner?

Also, does anyone know about the three steps in praying the Jesus prayer from vocal to mental to prayer of the heart? And how that last step can possibly ever be achieved unless one is an ascetic monk?

There is one last question, I have been looking to upgrade to a 100 or 150 knot prayer rope so if anyone has recommendations for a more inexpensive prayer rope of that size, let me know! 🙂

Thank you and God bless!
Click to expand...
In regards to the first question, yes I use a prayer rope. Not only do I use one, I also make them. 😃

I typically only pray 100 repetitions at a time. I’m still a beginner at prayer and have yet to “master” praying more than 100. Plus, if you follow the Rule of St. Pachomius, that’s what’s recommended. St. Theophan the Recluse also recommends praying between 10 and 20 minutes at a time when first getting started. It typically takes me about 15 - 20 to get through 100 repetitions of the Jesus Prayer.

In regards to the three steps, or phases, of the Jesus Prayer, know that they can all occur simultaneously. But in general the first two are the most common. Vocal prayer is simply prayer of the lips/tongue without much attention. Mental prayer is prayer prayed with attention and with feeling. “Prayer of the heart” or “Prayer with the mind in the heart” is a gift from God and not something that we can achieve on our own. It is certainly possible for God to give this blessing to lay people, but we have to show our openness to this blessing by preparing our hearts to receive it through mental prayer and ascetic discipline. Naturally ascetic discipline is going to be different for the lay person than for the monastic.

In terms of recommendations for prayer ropes. I do make and sell them. You can always contact me. I’ll admit that mine are a little more expensive than other sources, but I’ve priced them at what they are because I believe they are worth it. 😛 I’ve also heard great things about the prayers ropes made at St. Paisius Monastery. St. Isaac Skete also sells some decent prayer ropes. Take your pick. 🙂
 
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