Old Stuff

Earthen Vessels: Patristic Prayer

You might be interested in a new book from Ignatius Press - Earthen Vessels: The Practice of Personal Prayer According to the Patristic Tradition by Father Gabriel Bunge, a Benedictine hermit living in Switzerland.

Father Bunge is steeped in the writings of the Greek Fathers of the Church, and in his book he presents the ancient patristic way of prayer, which integrated contemplation and action through various physical gestures during prayer: facing east, hands outstreched, prostrations, various gestures appropriate to the liturgical season, i.e. more kneeling and prostrations during penitential seasons, etc. Along the way he demolishes the idea that Eastern meditation techniques are compatible with Christian prayer. Lots of citations of Evagrius Ponticus.