Two Books on the Pious Life

The other day I received a publication by the Old Rite Church of the Nativity entitled "A Son of the Church." It is an early 17th century Russian letter from an anonymous writer to a recent convert to Orthodoxy from presumably Lutheranism. I think it makes an excellent companion to Metropolitan Gregory Postnikov's "How to Live a Holy Life."

"How to Live a Holy Life" gives instructions on how to go through a single day correctly, saying in the conclusion "To show you how to pass another day in a holy way is unnecessary, because all earthly life, except Sundays and holy days, should be lived like this." Of course, following the conclusion there is a supplement regarding how to spend Sunday's, but you get the point. It includes instructions on every part of the day from waking up, going to work, eating meals, preparing for sleep, and even instructions on what to do if you can't sleep. It tells you how to relate to God through the day, and how to relate to other people. It is a very practical book, but it is clearly directed (and why wouldn't it be?) to cradle Russian Orthodox Christians who already know the basic rudiments of prayer in the temple and at home, as well as knowledge of fasting, how to make the Sign of the Cross, when to bow, etc. This is where "A Son of the Church" comes in.

It explains what we as Orthodox Christians are expected to do, how to do these things, and why we do these things. It is divided into 100 extremely short chapters (with a supplement of the Jesus Prayer) with instructions that are valuable to any convert, as well as a great reminder to those who were born Orthodox or have been Orthodox for a while. It encourages us to pay exact attention to what we are doing, and why. If you find yourself cheating here and there during the fasts, or maybe not bowing in Church correctly, this book will give you a reason and the inspiration for why you should. It covers information that is so basic that it is easy to forget. The first few chapters even remind you exactly why you are Orthodox and what that means, in very easy to understand language with no frills. Here is a sample chapter, "How to Listen to the Gospel."

"Listen to the Gospel carefully and pay close attention, because it is a word from the most pure mouth of Christ, by Whom all creation was fashioned, in Whom we live and for Whom we die; that is, we depart to Him."

This is not a book for those who want complicated theological discourses or advanced writings on the prayer of the heart, but for me at least it is exactly what I need to hold onto as I grow in the Church. Do you really need more information than that? All of the chapters give instruction in the same way. Here is another sample chapter, "Incense."

"When the priest or the deacon comes to you with the censer and incense, extend your hands, as if to receive the Spirit of life, and say the Jesus Prayer, which betokens the root of all good works. In this way our prayer ascends to God. As David wrote in the Psalms: "Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee."

I had not even thought about incense for a long time, and this short chapter reminded me of how important and spiritually beautiful it is, not just something that happens at the services. I should note that "A Son of the Church" was written before Patriarch Nikon's reforms, so a small amount of the liturgical instruction doesn't really apply, but it in no way takes away from the over all value of the book. Just because we don't bow to the four corners of the temple when we enter doesn't mean we can't learn from the reason why our forbearers did. I would recommend this book as a gift to anyone newly Baptized or Chrismated, or if like me you just need reminders to do things correctly.

These are the kind of books that you want to carry around with you everywhere, and read right after you wake up and right before you go to sleep. Because the chapters in both are so short, they are great to read on the train, or while waiting somewhere. "How to Live a Holy Life" is 150 pages long while "A Son of the Church" is a mere 53 pages long. Both have extremely small pages with fairly large print so this is not lengthy reading. You can purchase them both from the Church of the Nativity online bookstore here, and here.