tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post1610277328506642088..comments2023-12-22T19:01:28.512-08:00Comments on Holy Nativity Orthodox Church: On Mindless OutpouringsFr. Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16981965403145920704noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-12612033581607369362012-08-09T22:56:14.438-07:002012-08-09T22:56:14.438-07:00That, I think, is an excellent question. And if ...That, I think, is an excellent question. And if it can be answered, it would only be by a lifetime of experience.Fr. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981965403145920704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-89295916401513827382012-08-09T18:11:00.649-07:002012-08-09T18:11:00.649-07:00How do we know our prayers are empty or useless, t...How do we know our prayers are empty or useless, then? I understand and appreciate what you are saying about the mind. Thank you for this clarification.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-81664260372419304422012-08-09T16:37:10.965-07:002012-08-09T16:37:10.965-07:00The word 'vain' does not mean mindless, it...The word 'vain' does not mean mindless, it means empty or useless. That our culture has taught us to so value our mind that for many mindless is synonyms with vain speaks volumes. Blaise Pascal--himself a great thinker--acknowledged that the heart has reasons that reason knows nothing about. There are ways of knowing, especially of knowing God, that transcend what we usually mean when we speak of mind, and learning to keep that aspect of the mind in check is part of learning to know God in places deeper than the rational mind. There is nothing empty or vain about prayer that teaches us to know God in ways that transcend reason and even words and concepts. Mindless prayer can be full of the knowledge of God.Fr. Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16981965403145920704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-379457498929259022012-08-08T07:58:12.673-07:002012-08-08T07:58:12.673-07:00Dear Fr. Michael,
If vain repetition isn't mi...Dear Fr. Michael,<br /><br />If vain repetition isn't mindless, what are we being warned against?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27139233.post-52708407117366678302012-08-07T21:00:52.107-07:002012-08-07T21:00:52.107-07:00"...the armour formed by words and concepts....."...the armour formed by words and concepts..." well said, Father Michael.TeresaAngelinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251765018168417707noreply@blogger.com