July 15, 2003

Residual Prayer

I think we have finally ejected one of the last residual bits of Protestantism. Even though we've been chrismated for over a year and a half, I have still tending to pray over our meals seated and using the same formula I have for years. Some of you might cringe at the word "formula" - I could have said "liturgy" or some other word. It is still the same. Protestant prayers, especially mealtime prayers, are rarely spontaneous.

It has taken a surprising amount of effort and some stop-start jerkiness, like a learner driver trying to ease out the clutch and move forward in first gear. Now it starting to become comfortable. It is comfortable for Aidie, too. He knows that when we stand in front of the icon he should stop eating (as he invariably starts as soon as the food is in front of him). He watches attentively and still knows to say "amen." He recognises that the cadence of "Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us" and that the sung "ä-men" is the same as the spoken "ā-men". After either one he says, "mā-men!"

Posted by david at July 15, 2003 12:20 PM | TrackBack
Comments

This has taken me a bit of time, even coming from Anglicanism to Orthodoxy. I have used the same meal time prayer from about age 3 until now. And when I'm with my folks I still slip into it - it ranks up there with the great poety of "God is great God is good."

As to spontaneous prayers - my experience was that holidays and family gatherings resulted in the Protestant Tradition of the spontaneous Just Prayer: "Father, we just... and just want, and we just..."

Posted by: Huw Raphael at July 15, 2003 11:12 PM