An Introduction: A Rule of Life
Find within a treasury of prayers.
Opening this treasure chest of precious gifts will be a delight to you, body, mind and spirit. Yet if you open presents and have no place for them in your life, they are put back in the box and forgotten. We must make a place for prayer in our life. This is the reason a “Rule of Life” is recommended.
Write a simple outline of your basic week’s activities. Start with Sunday and each day put down what is the most general schedule of things you do. Find a time for prayer. For example, a morning prayer is as necessary for our spiritual life as greeting people is to human relationships. Or saying goodnight…
After you actually write down what may at first seem obvious and unnecessary, you will find yourself strengthened to achieve much more in every aspect of your life. You are the author of your rule of life and may change it prayerfully at any time.
The Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Heavenly King, Advocate, Spirit of Truth,
Who are everywhere present and fill all
things, Treasury of Blessings, Bestower of
Life, come and dwell within us; cleanse us
of all that defiles us, and, O Good One, save
our souls.
Trisagion
Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and
Immortal, have mercy on us. (3)
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be
Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will
be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us
this day our daily bread, and forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
The Jesus Prayer
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy
on me a sinner.”
Prayer of Surrender
O Heavenly Father, I surrender myself to
you this day. I give You my heart, my will
– my whole life. May Your holy will be accomplished
in me – today and for all eternity.
Amen.
To the Mother of God
Mary, most holy Mother of God, I entrust
myself to you completely as my spiritual
mother. At every moment of my life protect
and guide me. Teach me to grow in the
likeness of your Son, our God and Saviour,
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer of St. Ephrem
O Lord and Master of my life,
Grant not unto me
a spirit of idleness, of discouragement,
of lust for power and of vain speaking.
Bestow upon me, Thy servant,
the spirit of Chastity, Meekness, Patience
and Love.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive
my own transgressions and judge not my brother,
for Blessed art Thou, Now and Forever and Ever,
AMEN
The Holy Rosary
Like a nesting doll, the Holy Rosary of Mary, the holy Mother of God, is a great treasury of prayer within the Church’s treasury of prayer. Uncounted saints, holy ones and the Mother of God herself have urged us to pray the Rosary for the salvation of souls.