I Love Jesus - Sources for My Prayer

(this web page is a journey in progress 5/31/2025)

 

The first source is The Holy Bible, King James Version. and that is something I am continually rereading especially the New Testament. I hope to eventually read other versions.

 

Not really knowing where to go further, I read The Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley which is scholarly with footnotes and bibliography and in that I was able to read and learn of various other authors which I could look further into. I also read In the Counsel of Angels: The Ministry of Angels and My Assignment from Jesus by Bob Blase as I had a current interest in that subject. From reading that book, I started gradually writing my prayer. I searched and browsed the internet for the topic Christian Mystic. The Wikipedia Christian Mystic webpage provides a list of authors. I searched for their books online and found many in pdf format to download and read. I also browsed the internet and read about various Saints lives.

 

At first I had a strategy to read everything I could by one author for full immersion in their thought, but found it too slow going. This is why some authors have more representation than others in the list below. I then decided to move through the authors and ideas more quickly by reading less of an author, with the thought of coming back later for more. I found some authors and works too scholarly or poetic, and I was not able to absorb their knowledge easily and quickly enough, so I gave up on them and moved on to the next book. I may come back to them.

 

I would like to give details on the source or inspiration for each line in my prayer, but that is a bigger project that may occur in the future, but there is so much more to read. I also wish to provide more detail on the translation and publication of many of the books listed here.  This page needs a lot more work.

 

I indicate purchased or physical books with an asterisk. The rest were available for free download or reading on the internet.


As of 2024 I have started to reread certain profitable books. They are generally books on, about, or by the Desert Fathers (Evergetinos), the Philokalia, St Isaac the Syrian, St Symeon the New Theologian, St John Climacus, St Theophan the Recluse, St Nikodemos the Hagiorite, St Macarius the Great, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, Barsanuphius and John, St. Seraphim of Sarov, St Silouan, Elder Joseph the Hesychast, and others with similar instruction. I plan to continue to read books new to me including the Lives of the Saints.

 

Daily Readings

*Holy Bible, King James Version

*The Psalter of the Prophet and King David, Center for Traditional Orthodox Studies

*The Prologue of Ohrid Volume One and Two, Saint Nicholai

 

Recently Reread

*St Symeon, the New Theologian, The Discourses, Paulist Press

*Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian

*Isaac the Syrian´s Spiritual Works, Mary T. Hansbury

*Isaac of Nineveh, the Second Part chapters 4-41, Sebastian Brock

*Headings on Spirtual Knowledge, St Isaac of Nineveh (Second Part chapters 1-3), Sebastian Brock

*The Cell Letters, St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

*The spiritual life: and how to be attuned to it, St Theophan the Recluse

*Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain: A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel (Classics of Western Spirituality)

*The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology, Igumen Chariton, Faber and Faber (note paperback published by Farrar is printed poorly and very hard to read)

*The Path to Salvation, St Theophan the Recluse

*The Roman West and the Byzantine East, Archbishop Chrysotomos of Etna and Bishop Auxentios of Photiki

*Paths and Means to Holiness, Constantine Cavarnos

*Our Holy Father Dorotheos of Gaza, Various Soul Profiting Instructions for his disciples

*Abba Dorotheos of Gaza, His Letters and Various of his sayings

*Unseen Warfare, St Vladmir’s Seminary Press (same text as pdf download but has more extensive introduction)

*The Ladder of Divine Ascent, St John Climacus, Anna Skoubourdis (copy of Lazarus Moore version)

*Philokalia Volume 5, Anna Skoubourdis

 

Currently reading for First Time:

*Saint Barsanuphius, Saint John the Prophet, Letters From the Desert, The Full Text, Num Christina

* The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Luke, Blessed Theopylact

*Marriage As a Path to Holiness: Lives of Married Saints

*Thoughts for Each Day of the Year by St. Theophan the Recluse

 

Recently read for First Time:

*The Trial of Job, Patrick Henry Reardon

*The Orthodox Faith, Worship, and Life, New Rome Press

*The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to St. Mark, Blessed Theopylact

* The Explanation of the Holy Gospel According to Matthew, Blessed Theopylact

*Our Orthodox Christian Faith, Athanasios S. Frangopoulos

*Theosis the True Purpose of Human Life, Archmandrite George Kapsanis

*Elder Anthony of Optina, Fr. Clement Sederholm

*Elder Leonid of Optina, Fr. Clement Sederholm

*My Life in Christ, St.John of Kronstadt, Holy Trinity Publications

*Saint Isaac of Nineveh, On the Ascetical Life, Popular Patristic Series

*Elder Sergie of Vanves: Life and Teachings, Jean-Claude Larchet

*Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God by St John Maximovitch

*Marriage and Virginity according to St, John Chrysostom, Archpriest Josiah B Trenham

The Syriac fathers on prayer and the spiritual life. Sebastian Brock, internet archive

*St. Isaac the Syrian and His Spiritual Legacy, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev

*Counsels from the Holy Mountain, Geronda Ephraim of Arizona

*On the Resurection of the Soul, St Gregory of Nyssa

Orthodox iconography, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

The life in Christ, Nicolaus Cabasilas, internet archive

Entering the Orthodox Church, Hierotheos Vlachos, internet archive

*Saint Benedict of Nursia, The Monastic Rule

*The Illness and Cure of the Soul in the Orthodox Tradition, Metropolitan Nafpaktos Hierotheos

*On the Prayer of Jesus, Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov (a different translation is incluede in The Refuge)

*Saint Athanasios Parios, Constantine Cavarnos

*Biological Evolutionism, Constantine Cavarnos

*Confession: A Series of Lectures on the Mystery of Repentance, Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky)

*Blessed Elder Iakovos of Epiros, Elder Joseph, Mother Staverita, Constantine Cavarnos

Edification and Consolation Vol1-13, the holy convent of the holy angels, pdf

*Councils on the Spiritual Life, Mark the Monk, volumes 1&2

*Our Hope, Father Dmitrii Dudko

*Know Thyself, volume 7, Saint Nektarios Kefalas

*Blessed Elder Gabriel Dionysiatis, Constantine Cavarnos

*We Shall See Him As He Is, St Sophrony

*Give Me A Word, Alphabetical Sayings of the Desert Fathers, John Wortley

*Blessed Elder Philotheos of Zervakos, Constantine Cavarnos

*On the Prayer of Jesus and Divine Grace, Archbishop Antoniy

*Meditations on the Divine Liturgy, Nikolai Gogol

*Do You Have a Ticket, Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili

*Fasting in the Orthodox Church, Archimandrite Akakios

*Small Compline with Salutations to the Theotokos, C.T.O.S.

*Hunger fopr Holiness, Constantine Cavarnos

The Future Life According to Orthodox Teaching, Constantine Cavarnos

*Blessed Hermit Philaretos of the Holy Mountain, Constantine Cavarnos

*Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene of Lesvos, Constantine Cavarnos

*St. Methodia of Kimolos, Constantine Cavarnos

*St. Savvas the New, Constantine Cavarnos

*My Elder Joseph the Hesychast, Elder Ephraim

The luminous eye : the spiritual world vision of Saint Ephrem, Sebastian Brock, internet archive

*Monastic Wisdom, The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast

*The Nature of Angels and Souls, Theophan the Recluse, Anna Skoubourdis

*Works on the Spirit: Athanasius the Great & Didymus the Blind

*Sickness and Death, Theophan the Recluse, Anna Skoubourdis

*Kindling The Divine Spark: Teachings On How To Preserve Spiritual Zeal, St. Theophan the Recluse

*Letters to Nuns, St. Theophan the Recluse (copy 19/20 of Kindling The Divine Spark)

*The Life of St Basil the Younger, Dennis F. Sullivan+

St. Nectarios of Aegina, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

St. Arsenios of Paros, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

*Confession of Faith, Nikodemos the Hagiorite

*A Gathering of Spiritual Riches,  St Tikhon of Zadonsk

*The Departure of the Soul, St Anthonys Greek Orthodox Monastary

Starets Paisii Velichkovskii, his life, teachings, Chetverikov, Sergii, internet archive

*Light on the Mountain, Brian E. Daley, S.J.

*On the Human Condition, St Basil the Great

*Concerning Frequent Communion, Nikodemos the Hagiorite

*Flowers from the Desert, Archbishop Chrysotomos of Etna

St. Seraphim of Sarov, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

St. Nikephoros of Chios, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

*On Death and Eternal Life, St Gregory of Nyssa

*The Dog Delusion and Other Essays, Archbishop Chrysotomos of Etna

*The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way Reviewed, Hieromonk Parapios

*St Gregory of Nyssa, On the Human Soul, John P. Cavarnos

*On God and Christ, St Gregory of Nazianzus

*St. Macarios of Corinth, Constantine Cavarnos

*Saint Gregory Palamas, The Homilies

*Exomologetarion, Nikodemos the Hagiorite

*Letters Of John Dalyatha, Mary Hansbury

*Barsanuphius and John, Letters Volume 1, Fathers of the Church Patristic Series, John Chryssavgis

Mysticism of John Saba, Brian Edric Colless, The Mystical Discourses of John Saba

The Life of St Kosmas Aitolos, Nomikos Michael Vaporis, internet archive

*St Symeon, the New Theologian, Divine Eros, Hymns of

Modern Greek thought, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

Anchored in God, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

St. Cosmas Aitolos, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

Messages from the Holy Mountain, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

Byzantine thought and art : a collection of essays, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

The works of Dionysius the Areopagite, James Parker, internet archive

*A Patristic Reader, Archbishop Chrysotomos, John V. Petropoulos, Bishop Auxentios, Hiermonk Patapios

*Man’s Spiritual Evolution, Constantine Cavarnos

*Holiness: Man’s Supreme Destiny, Constantine Cavarnos

*God Made Man, and Man Made God, Archbishop Chrysotomos of Etna

*Paths and Means to Holiness, Constantine Cavarnos

*The Ecumenical Synods of the Orthodox Church, Protopresbyter James Thornton

*The Roman West and the Byzantine East, Archbishop Chrysotomos of Etna and Bishop Auxentios of Photiki

*F.A.Q.s about the G.O.C, Demetrios Alibertis

*The Threshold, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

*St Symeon, the New Theologian, On the mystical life: the ethical discourses, Volume 3

Nil Sorsky, the complete writings, internet archive

St. Symeon the New Theologian and Orthodox Tradition, Hilarion Alfeyev, pdf download

*Philokalia Volume 5, Palmer, G. E. H

*On True Christianity Vol 6, St Tikhon of Zadonsk

The Orthodox Church, Timothy Ware, original edition, internet archive

*Orthodox House of Worship, Augoustinos Kantiotes

*St Photios the Great, Constantine Cavarnos

The Homilies of Photius, St Photios, internet archive

*Orthodox Christian Terminology, Constantine Cavarnos

*The Church Is One, Alexei Stepanovich Khomiakov

*St Macarius the Great, The Fifty Spiritual Homilies, A. J. Mason

The Patriarch and the Prince, St Photios, internet archive

*St Symeon, the New Theologian, On the mystical life: the ethical discourses, Volume 1

St Symeon, the New Theologian, On the mystical life: the ethical discourses, Volume 2, internet archive

St Symeon, the New Theologian, The discourses, Paulist Press, internet archive

St Symeon, the New Theologian, The practical and theological chapters; and Three theological discourses, internet archive

St Symeon, the New Theologian, The Mystic of Fire and Light, George A. Maloney, internet archive

Saint Teresa of Avila the-interior-castle.pdf

Modern Orthodox Saints, St. Nicodemus the Hagiorite, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

The Orthodox Christian Teaching As Conveyed By Icons and Hymns -- Constantine Cavarnos – internet webpage

The Orthodox View of Salvation -- Constantine Cavarnos – internet webpage

The future life according to Orthodox teaching, Constantine Cavarnos, internet archive

The Orthodox veneration of Mary the birthgiver of God, by John, Saint, Archbishop of San Francisco, internet archive

The soul after death, Seraphim Rose, internet archive

*On True Christianity Vol 5, St Tikhon of Zadonsk

*Father Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works, Hieromonk Damascene

*St Macarius the Spiritbearer, Tim Vivian

*On True Christianity Vol 4, St Tikhon of Zadonsk

*The Watchful Mind, A Monk of Mount Athos

*The Evergetinos volume 4

*Isaac the Syrian´s Spiritual Works, Mary T. Hansbury

*Four Desert Fathers, Tim Vivian

*Isaac of Nineveh, the Second Part chapters 4-41, Sebastian Brock

*Little Russian Philokalia Vol 1: St. Seraphim of Sarov

*On True Christianity Vol 3, St Tikhon of Zadonsk

*On True Christianity Vol 2, St Tikhon of Zadonsk

*Headings on Spirtual Knowledge, St Isaac of Nineveh (Second Part chapters 1-3), Sebastian Brock

*Theology of Illness, Jean-Claude Larchet

*Illness and the Believer, Hieromonk Gregorios

Saint Silouan, the Athonite, internet archive

True Christianity Book 1, Johann Arndt, internet archive

*On True Christianity Vol 1, St Tikhon of Zadonsk

*Awake Thou That Sleepest St Theophan the Recluse Orthodox

*Themes in Orthodox Patristic Psychology, Archbishop Chrysotomos of Etna

The inner kingdom, Kallistos Ware, internet archive

On the Holy Spirit, Saint Basil, 1980, internet archive

*Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian

*The Arena, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

*The Evergetinos volume 3

*The Refuge, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

*The Evergetinos volume 2

The cloud of unknowing and The book of privy counseling, internet archive

*The Field, St. Ignatius Brianchaninov

*The Sunflower, Conforming the will of man to the will of God, St John of Tobolsk

*The Cell Letters, St. Tikhon of Zadonsk

*Abba Dorotheos of Gaza, His Letters and Various of his sayings

*Our Holy Father Dorotheos of Gaza, Various Soul Profiting Instructions for his disciples

*The Path to Salvation, St Theophan the Recluse

*The Evergetinos volume 1

*Christian Morality, Saint Nicodemus the Hagiorite

Early Fathers from the Philokalia, Palmer, G. E. H.,1954, internet archive (has St Isaac the Syrian)

The two books of homilies appointed to be read in churches, church of england, 1859, internet archive

*Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, What God Has Done for Our Salvation

The spiritual life : and how to be attuned to it, St Theophan the Recluse, internet archive

*Philokalia Volume 2, Constantine Cavarnos

book-of-common-prayer.pdf Episcopal Church

The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology, Igumen Chariton, internet archive

The Book of Tobit https://bible.usccb.org/bible/tobit/0

Philokalia Volume 4.pdf, Palmer, G. E. H

*The First-Created Man: Seven Homilies by St. Symeon the New Theologian Paperback, 2013

Benet of Canfield: The Rule of Perfection I and II (internet CAPDOX is easier to read than archive or pdf)

John van Ruysbroeck adornment-of-the-spiritual-marriage.pdf

John van Ruysbroeck the-book-of-supreme-truth.pdf

John van Ruysbroeck the-sparkling-stone.pdf

Fathers-of-the-Desert-VOL-2.pdf

A Fourteenth-Century Manual Of Hesychast Praye.pdf, Kallistos Ware, 1995

Barsanuphius and John, Directions in Spiritual Work, Writings from the Philokalia on prayer of the heart; Palmer, G. E. H., 1951, internet archive

*Philokalia Volume 1, Constantine Cavarnos

Shepherd of Hermas.pdf

Unseen Warfare By Fr. Lorenzo Scupoli (Library of Spiritual Works FOR English Catholics).pdf

Unseen Warfare By Fr. Lorenzo Scupoli, St Theophan the Recluse.pdf

General Epistle of Barnabas.pdf

Philokalia Volume 3.pdf, Palmer, G. E. H

*Philokalia Volume 5, Anna Skoubourdis

*Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain: A Handbook of Spiritual Counsel (Classics of Western Spirituality)

Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians.pdf

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Gregory Palamas The Triads Classics of Western Spirituality.pdf

Philokalia Volume 2.pdf, Palmer, G. E. H

Michael de Molinos Spiritual GUIDE WHICH Disentangles the Soul.pdf

Walter Hilton song of angels.pdf

St. John Climacus - THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT - Translated by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore

RM French, Translator THE WAY OF A PILGRIM and THE PILGRIM CONTINUES HIS WAY

Philokalia Volume 1.pdf, Palmer, G. E. H

Thomas Merton - An introduction to christian mysticism

*Anonymous works the cloud of unknowing, (Paracle Press)

*C.S Lewis - The Screwtape Letters

Brother Lawrence-The Practice of the Presence of God.pdf

Fathers-of-the-Desert-VOL-I.pdf

WILLIAM LAW Law_serious_call.pdf

 

 

Previous:

*Huxley, Aldous - The Perennial Philosophy

*Huxley, Aldous - The Divine Within: Selected Writings on Enlightenment

*Huxley, Aldous - The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell

*Blase, Bob - In the Counsel of Angels: The Ministry of Angels and My Assignment from Jesus 

 

Anonymous works the-cloud-of-unknowing.pdf

Anonymous works theologica_germanica.pdf

Early Church Fathers didache.pdf

Early Church Fathers The-Martyrdom-of-Polycarp.pdf

Henry Suso little-book-of-eternal-wisdom.pdf

Parable of the Pilgrim, Walter Hilton, included in Henry Suso little-book-of-eternal-wisdom.pdf

Jakob Boehme the-way-to-christ.pdf

Jakob Boehme Dialogues on the Supersensual Life.mobi

John van Ruysbroeck the-twelve-beguines.pdf

Madame Guyon concise-view-of-the-way-to-god.pdf

Madame Guyon short-and-easy-method-of-prayer.pdf

Madame Guyon spiritual-progress.pdf

Matelda of Magdeburg matelda-and-the-cloister-of-hellfde.pdf

Meister-eckhart sermons-by.pdf

Pilgrims-progress_full_text.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh A_Lover_of_the_Cross-Alfred_Zahir.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh Personal_Memoir_of_Sadhu_Sundar_Singh-C_F_Andrews.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh The_Gospel_of_Sadhu_Sundar_Singh-Friedrich_Heiler_1927.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh The_Sadhu-Streeter_and_Appasamy.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh The_Search_After_Reality-Sadhu_Sundar_Singh-1925.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh The_Vision_and_the_Call-T_E_Riddle.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh Visions_of_the_Spiritual_World.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh At_the_Masters_feet.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh Called_of_God-Sundar_Singh-Mrs_Arthur_Parker.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh Heaven_and_Hereafter-Sundar_Singh.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh sadhu_wisdom.pdf

Sadhu Sundar Singh The_Cross_Is_Heaven_A_J_Appasamy_1956.pdf

St Augustine augustine_confessions.pdf

Saint Teresa of Avila teresa_of_avila_way_of_perfection.pdf

St John of the Cross ascent.pdf

St John of the Cross dark_night.pdf

St. John of the Cross - The Complete Works Volume I - FACSIMIL - PDF.pdf

St. John of the Cross - The Complete Works Volume II - FACSIMIL - PDF.pdf

Thomas A Kempis imitation.pdf - imitation of Christ

Walter Hilton hilton_ladder.pdf - scale (or ladder) of perfection, Harry Plantinga, 1995

 

 

== There are are books I started but was not ready for and decided to save them for later.

The Romanian Philokalia volume VIII, Dumitru Staniloae, internet archive (incomplete and duplicates palmer v5 material)

Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 1.pdf

Bernadette Roberts - Essence of mysticism - video

WILLIAM LAW address-to-the-clergy.pdf

Early Church Fathers fathers_vol01.pdf

Early Church Fathers fathers_vol02.pdf

Madame Guyon guyon_poems.pdf

Evelyn Underhill essentials.pdf

Evelyn Underhill the-life-of-the-spirit.pdf

Evelyn Underhill ruysbroeck.pdf

Julian of Norwich revelations-of-divine-love.pdf

Dante-Alighieri-The-Divine-Comedy.pdf

 *Mixed Life, Walter Hilton

*Showings, Julian of Norwich

Franks, Romans, Feudalism, and Doctrine, John Romanides; internet download

*On The Cosmic Mystery of Jesus Christ, St Maximus the Confessor

Selected prose works by St Ephraem the Syrian, internet archive

*The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, Vladmir Lossky

===========