"Ἠρώτησάν τινες τὸν ἀββᾶν Μακάριον, λέγον τες· Πῶς ὀφείλομεν προσεύχεσθαι; Λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ γέρων· Οὐκ ἔστι χρεία βαττολογεῖν, ἀλλ΄ ἐκτείνειν τὰς χεῖρας, καὶ λέγειν· Κύριε, ὡς θέλεις καὶ ὡς οἶδας, ἐλέησον. Ἐὰν δὲ ἐπίκειται πόλεμος· Κύριε, βοήθει. Καὶ αὐτὸς οἶδε τὰ συμφέροντα, καὶ ποιεῖ μεθ΄ ἡμῶν ἔλεος"

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Added on April 10, 2026
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ProverbsChristian textsMonasticismDesert Fathers
Original Language: English

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Abba Macarius was asked, "How should one pray?" The old man said, "There is no need at all to make long discourses; it is enough to stretch out one's hands and say, 'Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.' And if the conflict grows fiercer say, 'Lord, help!' He knows very well what we need and he shews us his mercy." — Macarius the Great, Saying 19, Page 131