Rest prayer

Prayer of rest is called an early Christian form of prayer that goes back to Johannes Cassianus (360–435). The prayer of rest is characterized by the fact that the person praying renounces all conscious thinking and by repeating a simple prayer formula always recalls and lets wandering thoughts be drawn. The simple prayer formula “Come, God, and help me!” ( Ps 70.2  EU ) has been handed down from the desert fathers , and is still used today as a versicle (opening verse ) in the Church's prayers of the hours .

Emergence

Cassian learned this form of prayer primarily from the desert fathers in the Egyptian desert. Then he wrote down his knowledge in the so-called "Collationes patrum" (24 conversations with the fathers). Cassian's works are among the most important early Christian theological works . Numerous theologians were influenced by them, among them Ignatius von Loyola and Thomas von Kempen .

Basically, the prayer of rest is the form of prayer from which the heart prayer later emerged. As a more general preliminary form of the heart prayer, the prayer of rest can be assigned to hesychasm , although this term was coined long after the prayer of rest.

After the early Christian forms of prayer were often forgotten, many people in search of mysticism and meditation have turned to Asian religions. In the present day theologians and writers such as Peter Dyckhoff in particular point to the quiet prayer as a form of prayer.

See also

• Centering Prayer
• Miguel de Molinos

literature

• Johannes Cassianus : The rest prayer, an exercise after Johannes Cassian , original title "Collationes patrum", edited and transferred by Peter Dyckhoff, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-466-20362-7
• Peter Dyckhoff : The quiet prayer. The prayer of rest is an answer to many people's longing for inner peace and divine closeness.  ISBN 978-3-460-27175-3
• Peter Dyckhoff : Practice the quiet prayer. The prayer of rest goes back to the desert fathers and mothers of the first Christian centuries, primarily to Johannes Cassian (360–435).  ISBN 978-3-451-32397-3
• Peter Dyckhoff : Pray calmly. Simple and at the same time great in effectiveness, the practice of the prayer at rest leads to profound changes in life and faith. ISBN 978-3-9454011-7-0
• Peter Dyckhoff : The secret of the quiet prayer. A book that will help you discover this wonderful path of prayer. ISBN 978-3-451-37528-6

Web links

• Collationes patrum (24 conversations with the fathers) by Johannes Cassian (360–435) - Library of the Church Fathers https://www.unifr.ch/bkv/kapitel3049.htm
• Ruhegebet.com - Information and courses from Rev. Dr. Peter Dyckhoff trained teachers of the prayer of rest
• Article rest prayer atsimply-beten.de
• Rest prayer foundation
• Johannes Cassian: The Doctrine of Constant Prayer (PDF)