On the Prayer of Jesus Quotes

“Truly I tell you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. For whoever humbles himself like a child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt. 18:3–4).”
― Ignatius Brianchaninov, On the Prayer of Jesus: The Classic Guide to the Practice of Unceasing Prayer Found in The Way of a Pilgrim

“they cut that heart into two halves, wishing to know whether what they had been told was true. Inside, on the two halves of the heart that had been cut open, they found an inscription in gold letters: Jesus Christ.”
― Ignatius Brianchaninov, On the Prayer of Jesus: The Classic Guide to the Practice of Unceasing Prayer Found in The Way of a Pilgrim

“(John 14:13). Truly, truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in My name, He will give it you. Till now you have asked nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23).”
― Ignatius Brianchaninov, On the Prayer of Jesus: The Classic Guide to the Practice of Unceasing Prayer Found in The Way of a Pilgrim

“It is on the contrary a gift from God, the free gift of His grace, conferred by Him on those whom He chooses, at the time He chooses.”
― Ignatius Brianchaninov, On the Prayer of Jesus: The Classic Guide to the Practice of Unceasing Prayer Found in The Way of a Pilgrim

“Prayer means the shedding of thoughts.”33 “The mind during prayer,” writes Ignatius, “must be carefully kept formless, rejecting all imagination . . . Images, if the mind admits them, become a curtain and a wall which separate the soul from God.”
― Ignatius Brianchaninov, On the Prayer of Jesus: The Classic Guide to the Practice of Unceasing Prayer Found in The Way of a Pilgrim

“Ignatius is careful to insist that the Jesus Prayer is suitable for “all the people of God without exception. . . whether monks or lay people.”4 He does not claim, however, “It is the only way,” for he believes that there are many different paths of prayer which lead to salvation, and in this connection he quotes Christ’s words, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places” (John 14:2).5 Yet he would, I think, have said, “It is the best way.” Certainly he says (to paraphrase the whole argument of the present book), “It is an ancient way, commended in the Bible and the Fathers. It has helped many; it has helped me; it may also help you.”
― Ignatius Brianchaninov, On the Prayer of Jesus: The Classic Guide to the Practice of Unceasing Prayer Found in The Way of a Pilgrim