Prayer
Let us Always Pray:
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.
The above is Revised Standard Version.
Bible Reading
CHARITIES
Prayer is always possible for everyone, rich and poor, noble and simple, strong and weak, healthy and suffering, righteous and sinful. The power of prayer is great. Above all, it brings the spirit of God. –St. Seraphim
Without Prayer, there is no Spiritual Life!
Fasting
The word Fast means abstinence (Vozderzsanije) from food and, of course, from sinfulness also, without which no bodily fasting can help us in our salvation. The main purpose of double fasting is to make us more refined for spiritual work. Proper fasting, according to Church rules, consists not only of abstinence from flesh and other foods, but of Spiritual Abstinence as well - from all sinful desires, thoughts, words and deeds.
The Church Commandment concerning double fasting is very simple: “Brethren, fasting bodily, let us fast spiritually as well!” This means that fasting is many sided. For instance, St. John, the Chrisostom, who gave us the Liturgy Service, openly states in his lenten instructions: “Let the sinful tongue fast; and the all-seeing eyes; and the pleasure-loving feet; and the all-grasping hands; and the all-hearing ears.”
Lent also is a time to attend all church services, to confess our sins, to receive Holy Communion, to take part more frequently in exercises of piety, to give generously to works of religion and charity, to perform acts of kindness towards the sick, the aged and the poor, to pray more fervently.
Written By Rt. Rev. Protopresbyter Peter G. Kohanik
Psalm of Thanksgiving
I give You thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
Before the angels I sing Your praise;
I bow before Your holy presence
And give thanks to Your name for
Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness;
For You have exalted above everything
Your name and Your word.
On the day I called, You answered me;
My strength of soul You increased.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
You preserve my life;
You stretch out Your hand against the wrath
of my adversaries,
And your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me;
Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Psalm 138:1-3,7-8
