Personal prayers

[The Prokeimenon!]

Is it appropriate to compose prayers? Not spontaneous prayers, but prayers that you write down to repeat as needed (while still praying the prayers of the Church, of course).

What about composing hymns?

Thanks,
Moses

 

[Eusebios]

MTB,
I have no clear ideas on this subject, but am interested myself? Anyone? Anyone? * says Eusebios in his best Ben Stein monotone !*

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

I thought of that question not too long. I hope somebody knows the answer?

 

[MariaRegina]

Someone asked a priest that very question at a retreat.

The priest said we can take the official prayers of the church and add a person's name to that prayer, or add a petition for good grades to the general petitions, etc. If you take any book of Orthodox Prayers which are available to us, you can see the wide variety of prayers that are available, and how they can be slightly modified for personal use.

Composing our own prayers could be a sign of pride. It's better to pray the inspired prayers of the Holy Orthodox Church.

Hope this helps,

Elizabeth

 

[The Prokeimenon!]

Composing our own prayers could be a sign of pride.

That's what I was afraid of... I've got enough pride as it is

Thanks, Elizabeth!

 

[Matrona]

I usually stick to regular prayers out of the prayer book. But I have a few petitions that I doubt would be included in any Orthodox prayer book, so I just "free-form" pray for those.