The Rule of Monk Preston:

                     An expansion of...

                The Celtic Cross Rule of Seven

-Monk Preston, January 21, 2010; The Season of Epiphany

"Día Beannacht Leat"

("God Bless You."    -in Gaelic)

See also: "Commentary On The Rule"

The Monks here have memorized the entire Rule and recite it daily.

The Rule of our Order, while practiced and observed fully by the Monks here, is only 

      We are The Prayer Foundation ™  Knights of Prayer  ™ Monks. 

Our Mission: "To Promote Prayer among all Christians and Proclaim Christ to the World!"

Denying self, taking up our cross and following Christ, dying daily.  

Not conformed to this world, but transformed by God.

Remembering always, "...the greatest of these is love."

"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel..."

"Rejoice always.  Pray without ceasing.  

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Putting on the whole armor of God.

Praying One Daily Hour of Prayer.

Praying The Threefold Daily Prayers: 9, Noon, and 3.  

Praying The Lord's Prayer, The 23rd Psalm, Psalm 117. 

Praying all 150 Psalms every month, 5 each day.

Upon arising we pray St. Patrick's Breastplate.  

Before retiring we pray Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace.

Christ in us...us in Christ.

We live this day The Celtic Cross Rule of Seven.

One Desire, Four Goals, Two Devotions:

 Draw near to God.

Right Belief, Right Life, Right Witness, Right Ministry.

Prayer and the Word of God.

One Desire: The Ring of the Celtic Cross.

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you."

Four Goals: The Four Arms of the Cross.

• Right Belief .........The Holy Scriptures; summarized in The Nicene Creed.

• Right Life ............ "Be ye holy; for I am holy."                The Fruit of the Spirit.

• Right Witness ..... Christ's "Great Commission."        Right Belief & Right Life combined.

• Right Ministry ... "Lord, what would you have me do today?"

The four New Testament Greek terms for the Four Goals of Right Belief, Right Life, Right Witness, and Right Ministry are: orthodoxy (or orthodoxia), orthozoe, orthomartus, and orthodiakonia.  The word ortho in Greek means right; doxy (or doxia) means belief; zoe means life; martus means witness; and diakonia means ministry.

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"...and increasing in the knowledge of God;" -Colossians 1:10

• Right Belief (orthodoxy): God's revelation to man of The Holy Scriptures.  Basic essential Christian teaching has been summed up in the pastiche of Holy Scripture known as The Nicene Creed.  The only Creed accepted in common by Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and Protestants.  Accepted as stating correct essential basic Christian doctrine even by those Protestants that reject all Creeds on principle.

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"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing," -Colossians 1:10

• Right Life (orthozoe): Zoe means spiritual life: "the kind of life that is in God himself."  Our conversion experience and our continuing Christian life.  Christ in us...us in Christ.  "Be ye Holy, for I am Holy."  We cannot live the Christian life in our own strength or power.  The Fruit of the Spirit is not our fruit, but the Holy Spirit's.  (Note: bios is the Greek word that means physical life).

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"...being fruitful in every good work," -Colossians 1:10

• Right Witness (orthomartus): Our English word martyr comes from the Greek word for witness.  Christ's "Great Commission" is "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel..."  Right Belief and Right Life combined.  If either our beliefs or our life are not right, our Christian witness is marred.

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"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" -Colossians 1:9

• Right Ministry (orthodiakonia): Our English word deacon comes from the Greek word for ministry.  To live daily as a minister, to serve as a servant, after the example of our Lord.  Denying self, taking up our cross and following Christ, dying daily.  "Lord, what would you have me do today?"

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meant as a non-required guide for our Lay Monks; for those who wish to do more, either from time to time, or daily.

Requirements for Lay Monks  are posted on our webpage: Become a Lay Monk. _____________

Scripture References:

About The Prayer Foundation (Acts 6:4; James 4:8; Mark 16:15) Statement of Faith What We Believe Plan of Salvation Luke 9:23                   I Corinthians 15:31 Romans 12:2              I Corinthians 13:13 

Mark 16:15                

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

                           Ephesians 6:10-18 The Threefold Daily Prayers                  Monk Preston's "Celtic Cross" Teaching

Colossians 1:27         II Corinthians 5:17

                       James: 4:8

Colossians 1:9-10

                                   Acts 6:4

James: 4:8

                       Nicene Creed: Scripture Basis       I Peter 1:16 Galatians 5:22-23 Mark 16:15      Romans 12:2              I Corinthians 15:31                           I Thessalonians 5:16-18              

Acts 6:4

                      Matthew 28:19

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