Nazareth consists of strugglers in retreat at the Pilgrim House near Grace Church.  This form of life, called the royal path, avoids both the trials of the large coenobitic monastery and the dangers inherent in the solitary life of the hermit.  In praying the Jesus Prayer each resident/pilgrim (Nazarene) engages in their own intense inner struggle.

As with the example of St. Simeon, through the ascetical discipline of the NHA we find God to be enough.  Most religion is the result of not finding God, not finding Him to be enough or not wanting God to be enough.  The life of Nazareth lived, declares God is enough.  Once one senses the releasing fragrance of “enough” with its exhilarating freedom one will never be satisfied with anything in this world, but will want only to cry out with John the Beloved and Holy Simeon: “Come Lord Jesus, its enough.” (Rev. 22:20; Lk 2:25-32).   At this point there is nothing else to do, no more reason for anything else – “You shall find rest” (Mt. 11:28-30) from having and doing.  Like a breath from another world (“The Name of the Lord comes from afar” – Isaiah 30:27) we have been given  this vocation of “enough”, of praying The Name, of taking everyone else’s name up  into His and offering it to the Father.  Enough, enough!  At last “Christ IS all and in all” – (Col.3:11).   May Grace Church, Nazareth House Apostolate ever live to declare this truth.

Therefore our flight from the world, our entry into Nazareth, will have absolutely no meaning if we are not persons who pray.  Our coming to the Nazareth House Apostolate will have been an act of deception to the world, and an illusion and fraud before God, unless we become intensely prayerful people.

We are a Christian “Community of the Faithful”  from all walks of life, from various countries and cultures, and have a wide variety of personalities and talents.  We have in common a desire to serve God in a very humble and hidden way of life.  Our spirit is that of a family — modeled by the holy family of Nazareth, which was a community of perfect charity and love.

We are called to share each other’s experience of struggle and suffering and each other’s visions of hope, bearing witness in prayer. We are connected to God in prayer and to each other with God in intercession.  Pray, Pray always.