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<\/a>In prayer, quality counts more than quantity <\/b><\/span><\/p>\nPalladius of Galatia tells the story of an ascetic who was dismayed to learn that there was a woman who prayed even more than he did. The wise Macarius answered him that the number of the prayers wasn\u2019t the problem: it was whether he was praying with a pure heart. <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n There is a mountain in Egypt called Pherme, which borders on the great desert of Scete. On this mountain dwell some five hundred men, devotees of asceticism. <\/span><\/p>\n One of them, a man named Paul, had this manner of life: he touched no work and no business, nor did he receive anything from anyone beyond what he ate. But his work and his asceticism consisted in ceaseless prayer. He had three hundred set prayers, and he collected the same number of pebbles and kept them in his lap and threw out of his lap one pebble at each prayer. <\/span><\/p>\n He went to speak with Macarius, the one known as \u201cthe Citizen.\u201d \u201cFather Macarius,\u201d he said, \u201cI am afflicted.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n He said, \u201cIn a certain village there lives a virgin who has lived the ascetic life for thirty years. They have told me of her that except on Saturday and Sunday she never eats. But all the while dragging out the long weeks and eating at intervals of five days she makes seven hundred prayers. And when I learned this I despaired of myself because I could not make more than three hundred.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n The holy Macarius answered him: \u201cI am now sixty years old; I make a hun\u00addred set prayers and produce my food by my own work, and speak to the brethren when they need me, and my reason does not condemn me as having neglected my duty. But if you say three hundred and are condemned by your conscience, you are clearly not praying them with purity, or else you could pray more and do not.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n \u2013Palladius of Galatia, <\/span>Lausiac History<\/i><\/span>, 20.1-3 <\/span><\/p>\n IN GOD\u2019S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . . <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n What is my conscience telling me about my prayer life? <\/span><\/p>\n CLOSING PRAYER <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Lord, sanctify me completely in soul, body, and spirit, so that I may pray to you along with your holy disciples and Apostles.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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