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Guidelines for Prayers
FR. MATTHEW THE POOR, also known as Abouna Matta El Meskeen (1919-2006), focused lots of his writings on prayer
The late Coptic Orthodox monk, spiritual father and abbot of the Monastery of St. Macarius, author of his worldwide known book “Orthodox Prayer Life”, added other books to guide Christians in praying.
This volume contains two essential books, the first, “Guideline for Prayer”, and “When you pray; Say Our Father”.
Abouna Matta started to pave the way for beginners of prayer, raising the love of God above man’s sins, which is the biggest obstacle to prayer. Christ waits for us and when He meets us in prayer, we come to know His will. That is why He declares in the Gospel the vital importance of prayer, urging us to pray all times tirelessly and ceaselessly.
We, through prayer have received a great gift through the mediation of Jesus Christ: the gift is to be in the presence of God the Father.
Then he taught us to begin the prayer with “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” for He alone worthy of worship. Then follows the doxology (glory) as a praising of the Holy Trinity and a testimony of His entire divine presence.
Abouna Matta warns us that frequent sinning, or doubts resulting from tribulations of illnesses, make us insensitive to the presence of God, as they cause dread or despondency of Him. He explained that despite this, the love of God is not put off by the sins of the penitent sinner, or his impurity or doubts. For God’s love has infinite power to forgive and purify.
Abouna Matta then guides us in how to overcome excuses for evading prayers, and the difference between the Pharisaic prayers and the prayers which lead us to the presence of the Holy Trinity, when Christ will be our partner in prayer and the Holy Spirit cries out in our hearts. Our prayers then will be a divine call and a return of an exiled creation.
The author also explained how to submit our earthy affairs in prayer, an issue which requires understanding as it is always a question for us.
The frequency of our prayer works in our inner being, changing us into the same image of God.
In these texts, we learn that prayer is communion and union with God, more powerful than sin as a declaration of regret and repentance. Our prayer is an act of obedience of God, and reaction of the divine love.
The last chapter of the first book about prayer for others, how it is essential for the whole church and for us as individuals.
The second book “When you pray, say: our Father in Heaven” (Luke 11:2-4), addresses the Lord’s Prayer, which many have memorized and use daily.
This book is essential to our understanding of prayer, because it is Jesus’s direct answer to the disciples’ question of how to pray. If we pray it, we must understand it well. The Lord’s Prayer provides a guideline for how we must pray, and contains all concepts and ideas that man could ask for, such as the glorification of God, forgiveness, repentance, daily economics, acknowledgement of Heaven and Christ’s Kingdom and will, temptation, and the power of God. Abouna Matta addresses the meaning and depth of this prayer that we have known since childhood and recited in our hearts and minds both in private, and in the church.
Our Lord Jesus Christ meant for this prayer to be concise, but full of the essentials of true prayer that contains the relationship between God and man, on heaven and earth. The author focuses the light on every word to discover its spiritual depth and application to our daily lives as Christ followers.
The late Coptic Orthodox monk, spiritual father and abbot of the Monastery of St. Macarius, author of his worldwide known book “Orthodox Prayer Life”, added other books to guide Christians in praying.
This volume contains two essential books, the first, “Guideline for Prayer”, and “When you pray; Say Our Father”.
Abouna Matta started to pave the way for beginners of prayer, raising the love of God above man’s sins, which is the biggest obstacle to prayer. Christ waits for us and when He meets us in prayer, we come to know His will. That is why He declares in the Gospel the vital importance of prayer, urging us to pray all times tirelessly and ceaselessly.
We, through prayer have received a great gift through the mediation of Jesus Christ: the gift is to be in the presence of God the Father.
Then he taught us to begin the prayer with “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” for He alone worthy of worship. Then follows the doxology (glory) as a praising of the Holy Trinity and a testimony of His entire divine presence.
Abouna Matta warns us that frequent sinning, or doubts resulting from tribulations of illnesses, make us insensitive to the presence of God, as they cause dread or despondency of Him. He explained that despite this, the love of God is not put off by the sins of the penitent sinner, or his impurity or doubts. For God’s love has infinite power to forgive and purify.
Abouna Matta then guides us in how to overcome excuses for evading prayers, and the difference between the Pharisaic prayers and the prayers which lead us to the presence of the Holy Trinity, when Christ will be our partner in prayer and the Holy Spirit cries out in our hearts. Our prayers then will be a divine call and a return of an exiled creation.
The author also explained how to submit our earthy affairs in prayer, an issue which requires understanding as it is always a question for us.
The frequency of our prayer works in our inner being, changing us into the same image of God.
In these texts, we learn that prayer is communion and union with God, more powerful than sin as a declaration of regret and repentance. Our prayer is an act of obedience of God, and reaction of the divine love.
The last chapter of the first book about prayer for others, how it is essential for the whole church and for us as individuals.
The second book “When you pray, say: our Father in Heaven” (Luke 11:2-4), addresses the Lord’s Prayer, which many have memorized and use daily.
This book is essential to our understanding of prayer, because it is Jesus’s direct answer to the disciples’ question of how to pray. If we pray it, we must understand it well. The Lord’s Prayer provides a guideline for how we must pray, and contains all concepts and ideas that man could ask for, such as the glorification of God, forgiveness, repentance, daily economics, acknowledgement of Heaven and Christ’s Kingdom and will, temptation, and the power of God. Abouna Matta addresses the meaning and depth of this prayer that we have known since childhood and recited in our hearts and minds both in private, and in the church.
Our Lord Jesus Christ meant for this prayer to be concise, but full of the essentials of true prayer that contains the relationship between God and man, on heaven and earth. The author focuses the light on every word to discover its spiritual depth and application to our daily lives as Christ followers.
- GenresPrayerChristianity
51 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1968
68 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Matthew the Poor
34 books31 followers(Arabic: متى المسكين)
Father Matta El-Meskeen (Maskeen or Maskine ; translated as Matthew the Poor ), born Youssef Eskander (September 20, 1919 - June 8, 2006), was a Coptic Orthodox monk and spiritual father of 130 monks in the Monastery of St. Macarius the Great at Scetis in Wadi Natrun, Egypt. He is considered by many to be a renowned Orthodox theologian, and was an author of voluminous texts on numerous topics, including biblical exegesis, ecclesiastical rites, and other spiritual and theological matters (181 books, besides hundreds of journal articles).
Father Matta is celebrated by many Copts as a reformer and a prominent figure in recent Coptic history. Following the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI in 1971, Father Matta and two others (Bishops Samuel and Shenouda) were considered as candidates for the Patriarchal throne. Bishop Shenouda was chosen to be the Coptic Pope of Alexandria.
Father Matta and Pope Shenouda share some common history. Both participated in the Sunday school movement and Matta was Shenouda's confessor in the 1950s. Pope Shenouda acknowledges his debt to his teacher, Father Matta El-Meskeen, whom he calls 'my father monk' in the introduction to his book Intelaq Al-Rouh (The Release of the Spirit).(Father Matta was also the spiritual guide of the late Alexandrian priest Father Bishoy Kamel, a contemporary Coptic Orthodox saint.)
It is undocumentedly alleged that Father Matta was suspended twice, first by Pope Yousab II in 1955, and then again by Pope Kyrillos VI for nine years from 1960 to 1969[15] for administrative/"political" (e.g., his book about the 'Church and the State', in which he called for total separation of the two) rather than for any truly theological or core dogmatic issues. However this allegation is not true at all and undocumented. Some say undocumentedly that what is called the 1960s suspension was because of Father Matta's objection to the Coptic Church signing of the Catholic Declaration of the Innocence of the Jews from the Blood of Christ. But also this allegation is not true and undocumented. The saintly Pope Kyrillos VI later insisted that Father Matta absolve and forgive him in the presence of H.E. Metropolitan Mikhail of Assiut.
Father Matta El-Meskeen (Maskeen or Maskine ; translated as Matthew the Poor ), born Youssef Eskander (September 20, 1919 - June 8, 2006), was a Coptic Orthodox monk and spiritual father of 130 monks in the Monastery of St. Macarius the Great at Scetis in Wadi Natrun, Egypt. He is considered by many to be a renowned Orthodox theologian, and was an author of voluminous texts on numerous topics, including biblical exegesis, ecclesiastical rites, and other spiritual and theological matters (181 books, besides hundreds of journal articles).
Father Matta is celebrated by many Copts as a reformer and a prominent figure in recent Coptic history. Following the repose of Pope Kyrillos VI in 1971, Father Matta and two others (Bishops Samuel and Shenouda) were considered as candidates for the Patriarchal throne. Bishop Shenouda was chosen to be the Coptic Pope of Alexandria.
Father Matta and Pope Shenouda share some common history. Both participated in the Sunday school movement and Matta was Shenouda's confessor in the 1950s. Pope Shenouda acknowledges his debt to his teacher, Father Matta El-Meskeen, whom he calls 'my father monk' in the introduction to his book Intelaq Al-Rouh (The Release of the Spirit).(Father Matta was also the spiritual guide of the late Alexandrian priest Father Bishoy Kamel, a contemporary Coptic Orthodox saint.)
It is undocumentedly alleged that Father Matta was suspended twice, first by Pope Yousab II in 1955, and then again by Pope Kyrillos VI for nine years from 1960 to 1969[15] for administrative/"political" (e.g., his book about the 'Church and the State', in which he called for total separation of the two) rather than for any truly theological or core dogmatic issues. However this allegation is not true at all and undocumented. Some say undocumentedly that what is called the 1960s suspension was because of Father Matta's objection to the Coptic Church signing of the Catholic Declaration of the Innocence of the Jews from the Blood of Christ. But also this allegation is not true and undocumented. The saintly Pope Kyrillos VI later insisted that Father Matta absolve and forgive him in the presence of H.E. Metropolitan Mikhail of Assiut.
Early life
Father Matta El Meskeen was born in Benha, elKaliobia, Egypt, in 1919. (One source says he was born in Damanhour, Egypt.) In 1944, he graduated in Pharmacy from the University of Cairo. In 1948, after leading a successful life and establishing a wealthy lifestyle for himself--Eskander at the time was the owner of two pharmacies, two villas, and two cars--he renounced his material possessions, and entered the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor in Qualmun (roughly near Maghagha, Upper Egypt). In 1951, he was ordained a priest against his will.
Monastic life
After living for a few years in the Monastery of St. Samuel the Confessor, Matta decided to move out into Wadi El Rayan in the late 1950s. There, he lived as a recluse in the spirit of the ancient Desert Fathers for twelve years. By 1960, seven other monks joined him. The community expanded to twelve by 1964. These twelve monks were sent by Pope Kyrillos VI to Wadi El Natroun in 1969 to develop the monastery of St. Macarius the Great. At that time only six elderly, frail fathers lived near the road between Cairo and Alexandria. Matta and his twelve companions cared for them while reconstructing the monastery. The administrative, agricultural, institutional, and printing/publishing developments at the renewed Monastery of St. Macarius the Great were staggering. But the spiritual revolution was much greater. By 1981 Matta had over eighty monks in the monastery.
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October 8, 2024A little too deep for me. You can tell the writer was a monk, and one who learned from the Desert Father's at that. I'll take some wisdom from it, but will ultimately have to look elsewhere.
The emphasis on suffering, struggle, self admonishment and so on just didn't resonate for me.
The emphasis on suffering, struggle, self admonishment and so on just didn't resonate for me.
December 4, 2025
Perhaps the greatest single book I have ever read on the topic of prayer. It is profoundly deep, immensely practical, and stirs the heart for a relationship with Jesus that is as far away as putting down the book and simply standing to pray.
A few years ago I approached Fr. Matthews' 'The Orthodox Prayer Life' and found that I was like a child creating castles in a sandpit reading the engineering blueprints for a Boeing 747... so far beyond me it was almost discouraging and I didn't know how to begin. In this book, however, each page is simple, yet I found I could not read on past one or two pages--I had to put down the book for a few days, ponder, and apply what was spoken of. By the end it took me more than three months to read its 100 pages--I feel I could use it as a blueprint for prayer for the next decade, and not need another book. This book is a true gift, as is the life from which it flowed.
A few years ago I approached Fr. Matthews' 'The Orthodox Prayer Life' and found that I was like a child creating castles in a sandpit reading the engineering blueprints for a Boeing 747... so far beyond me it was almost discouraging and I didn't know how to begin. In this book, however, each page is simple, yet I found I could not read on past one or two pages--I had to put down the book for a few days, ponder, and apply what was spoken of. By the end it took me more than three months to read its 100 pages--I feel I could use it as a blueprint for prayer for the next decade, and not need another book. This book is a true gift, as is the life from which it flowed.
January 17, 2024
In one sense, very straightforward: this book contains guidelines for prayer. In another sense, it's a warm encouragement to take up a prayer life in a consistent way because God longs to hear from us. Prayer is union and communion with God and a beholding of his face, and constant prayer is having a sense of his closeness through the day. Matthew the Poor never makes one feel guilty for a lack of time, but is constantly urging the reader against prayerlessness.
"God is always ready to accept you back. He incessantly calls you: 'I have stretched out My hands all day long (Isaiah 65:2)'...Thus your being with God and in His Presence is, as it were, a call for the exiled creation to return to the bosom of its creator, like the return of Adam to paradise."
"God is always ready to accept you back. He incessantly calls you: 'I have stretched out My hands all day long (Isaiah 65:2)'...Thus your being with God and in His Presence is, as it were, a call for the exiled creation to return to the bosom of its creator, like the return of Adam to paradise."
February 17, 2023
Sensational. This is a short yet great and deep book about prayer from Fr Matthew The Poor. In these articles, Fr Matthew provides a beautiful and practical answer on how to pray. The articles are very easy to read, Fr Matthew takes us through different aspects of prayer like offering continuous prayer throughout our days, practical solutions to the "I am busy and I don't have time to pray" problem, distractions during prayer, Worship of God in Truth and Spirit, Obedience in prayer which later turns into obedience to God in personal life, the transformative power of prayer on a person and how it turns them into the beautiful image of Christ, and prayer for others as a bi-product of that transformation! I definitely recommend this book for individuals as they navigate prayer and adopt it as a life!
February 18, 2023
Very good and short book recommended for as guide for prayer
December 11, 2025
It is rare that upon finishing a book I find myself imbued with a newfound weight and silence within myself. It is unfathomable to me that just a mere few hours ago I truly failed to comprehend the true significance and personal essence of prayer, despite having prayed countless times over the course of my life.
This short reflection by Mathew the Poor of saint Macarius’ monastery carried such wisdom and concise strength that I am truly astonished at the great mystery revealed and deconstructed with such mastery in such a short time. This biblically rooted treatise truly moved my heart toward prayer, in a way which I’ve never been moved to it before.
Through this book, prayer is truly understood to be the very foundation of the Christian faith. It is how we confer not just with God but also how we bear witness to the fullness of Christ in a mystical spiritual communion comparable only to the praises of the cherubim who with there many eyes and fiery consumption bear witness to the full glory and grace of God.
Likewise through prayer with Christ as our mediator we grow these “many eyes” within our hearts and with each prayer come to witness more and more of Christs essence. An essence and love so powerful that those who truly open their hearts are likened toward this very image. Through prayer Christ imprints himself upon man’s soul and thus that same man draws others to prayer and salvation as they see that imprint of Christ within him.
But with this fervent love for prayer and the “gift of tears” and bitter weeping is an outright terrifying responsibility. To those in the righteousness and fullness of prayer, they have an obligation to pray for the sins and repentance of others akin to how Christ took on the sins of his creation, otherwise those who suffer in darkness and die in the shadow of sin as a result of our neglect in prayer shall have their deaths attributed to our hands. Through our silence in prayer concerning others we bear the guilt of their sins and estrangement from God for we who know the truth and are called to prayer have abandoned those in darkness, doing exactly what the scriptures prohibit by placing the “light under a basket”. This is to me a terrifying prospect that my prayers hold such power, sincere love and personal communion with Christ and such responsibility, yet it is a sanctifying act which we are all called to do in silence as often as we can manage.
Truly a spiritual treasure trove for those seeking wisdom and the true depth and understanding of the value of prayer.
May the peace of the lord be with you all.
This short reflection by Mathew the Poor of saint Macarius’ monastery carried such wisdom and concise strength that I am truly astonished at the great mystery revealed and deconstructed with such mastery in such a short time. This biblically rooted treatise truly moved my heart toward prayer, in a way which I’ve never been moved to it before.
Through this book, prayer is truly understood to be the very foundation of the Christian faith. It is how we confer not just with God but also how we bear witness to the fullness of Christ in a mystical spiritual communion comparable only to the praises of the cherubim who with there many eyes and fiery consumption bear witness to the full glory and grace of God.
Likewise through prayer with Christ as our mediator we grow these “many eyes” within our hearts and with each prayer come to witness more and more of Christs essence. An essence and love so powerful that those who truly open their hearts are likened toward this very image. Through prayer Christ imprints himself upon man’s soul and thus that same man draws others to prayer and salvation as they see that imprint of Christ within him.
But with this fervent love for prayer and the “gift of tears” and bitter weeping is an outright terrifying responsibility. To those in the righteousness and fullness of prayer, they have an obligation to pray for the sins and repentance of others akin to how Christ took on the sins of his creation, otherwise those who suffer in darkness and die in the shadow of sin as a result of our neglect in prayer shall have their deaths attributed to our hands. Through our silence in prayer concerning others we bear the guilt of their sins and estrangement from God for we who know the truth and are called to prayer have abandoned those in darkness, doing exactly what the scriptures prohibit by placing the “light under a basket”. This is to me a terrifying prospect that my prayers hold such power, sincere love and personal communion with Christ and such responsibility, yet it is a sanctifying act which we are all called to do in silence as often as we can manage.
Truly a spiritual treasure trove for those seeking wisdom and the true depth and understanding of the value of prayer.
May the peace of the lord be with you all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2022
A simple yet Grace filled guide to prayer
Fr Matthew writes with seasoned words, enfolding the reader in a profound invition to pray. He writes from the well of a blessed spiritual father.
This is a complete primer on prayer. I recommend it to those new to deepening prayer, and to those long wrapped in the practice, as a beautiful reminder and support.
Fr Matthew writes with seasoned words, enfolding the reader in a profound invition to pray. He writes from the well of a blessed spiritual father.
This is a complete primer on prayer. I recommend it to those new to deepening prayer, and to those long wrapped in the practice, as a beautiful reminder and support.
July 26, 2024
Read almost the whole thing in one day. But don't let the light and easy-to-read nature of Matthew the Poor's prose lead you to skim or look past the true value hidden within. This book is rich, with treasure troves of advice, wisdom, and experiences with God that cannot have been attained to by reading, but, as the book so aims to incline its reader, through prayer.
July 13, 2023
Matthew the Poor on prayer. I liked this mostly because it helped me think through some of my current prayer challenges, but there's plenty in it that doesn't align with my experiences or my beliefs (particularly about embodiment, suffering, and role of the self).
July 23, 2024
Short & Sweet
These medications on prayer come from one of the twentieth century's best known monks. A Coptic Orthodox monk from Egypt, i English he is called Matthew the Poor. A good overview of prayer, esp. for those beginning a prayer life.
These medications on prayer come from one of the twentieth century's best known monks. A Coptic Orthodox monk from Egypt, i English he is called Matthew the Poor. A good overview of prayer, esp. for those beginning a prayer life.
October 11, 2024
4.5
Great read. Loved this meditation on prayer and it really gave me a new perspective on how to pray. I’ve been finding myself constantly referencing it in a lot of conversations I have. Definitely a book I’d love to revisit.
Great read. Loved this meditation on prayer and it really gave me a new perspective on how to pray. I’ve been finding myself constantly referencing it in a lot of conversations I have. Definitely a book I’d love to revisit.
June 30, 2025
Glory to God
This is truly a glory to God book. Such encouragement and hope and insight into a wholehearted and healthy prayer life. It is a book that I want to read again and again.
This is truly a glory to God book. Such encouragement and hope and insight into a wholehearted and healthy prayer life. It is a book that I want to read again and again.
August 24, 2023
I literally couldn’t put it down. Quick read but amazingly powerful. I would recommend to all who want to sincerely learn to pray.
March 7, 2024
This is a solid little treatise to keep always qued up on your kindle app. for prayer.
July 7, 2021
An amazing book that every one should read it. So simple yet so deep. Even the ones who dont read theological texts should read it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews