156 The Sources
Prayers of John Chrysostom (349–407)
John Chrysostom was a well-educated and devout Christian with an ascetic
lifestyle. He became Bishop of Constantinople in a period of political and
doctrinal turmoil, and served, until his final exile, with great courage and
skill. His name means ‘golden mouthed’, reflecting the captivating preaching
for which he was famous. The Divine Liturgy that bears his name represents a
very early stream of public worship, which continues in the weekly Eucharist
of Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches. These distinctive ancient prayers
are for corporate rather than personal use, but the personal prayer of the
Orthodox tradition is greatly influenced by this liturgy.
Prayers of Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
Augustine was a teacher of rhetoric from North Africa who became the
most influential theologian of the Western Church in his own lifetime.
His enormous output of theological writing deeply influenced church
thinking in subsequent centuries. He is widely known for the writing of his
Confessions, a narrative and meditation on his early sinful years, his spiritual
struggles and his dramatic conversion. It is largely set in the form of prayer,
so lends itself well to adapting for personal prayer.
Benedictine prayers
The son of a Roman noble, Benedict of Nursia (480–547) chose a solitary
life of prayer at the age of 20. He founded a number of monasteries in Italy
in the early sixth century, including the monastery at Monte Cassino of
which he was Abbot. He framed principles for community living in a work
known as The Rule of Saint Benedict. This wise and tender rule was taken
up by many medieval communities to guide their way of life and is still
widely used today. He is thus regarded as the founder of the Benedictine
Order, which now includes Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran forms
as well as the Order of the Oblates of Saint Benedict, people who vow to
live out ordinary life in harmony with the Rule of Saint Benedict. Prayers