The Jesus Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Men,

Prayer is a essential to the Christian life, but oh how few of us do it with any depth or master it in any capacity. For many, prayer means little more that that thing they do at Mass on Sundays or reciting phrases mechanically. Our prayer life and our life as Christians gets stagnate and stays superficial.

Saint Paul challenged us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17) and has instructed the faithful to “be constant in prayer” (Rom. 12:12). In his letters, there are two Greek words that appear consistently PANTOTE, meaning “always” and ADIALEPTOS, meaning “without interruption / unceasingly”. Prayer is not a frivolous part of life that we are able to conveniently set aside when something “more important” arises. Prayer is the key, the constant, the independent variable! Prayer is essential to knowing God. Spiritually, prayer is as important as breathing.

So how do we pray unceasingly? We have jobs, kids, bills to pay, things to plan, maintenance to attend to. What gives? I think the best answer to such a question lies in the understanding of what prayer actually encompasses. To pray means to think and live our whole life in the Presence of God. Every act and gesture must become an adoration of the Lord.

“Whatever you do, do it for the Glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31).

---

The Jesus Prayer

This is how we tackle St. Paul’s challenge to pray unceasingly - The Jesus Prayer. The prayer that goes back to the New Testament and is battle tested. This prayer can also be called the prayer of the heart. Such a prayer is offered as a means of concentration for our inner life.

The ancient Jesus prayer was developed by the Desert Fathers of the third and fourth centuries from the often-repeated prayers of the Psalms, “Kyrie eleison” or “Lord, have mercy on me.”

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

This prayer is the essence of simplicity and clarity. There is power in the name of Jesus and the Jesus Prayer centers on the Holy Name itself. It is a prayer of the Spirit because it addresses Jesus as Lord, Christ and Son of God.

“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:3)

---

The four ‘strands’

Within this one short sentence we may find four ‘strands’ or constituent elements:

1. the cry for mercy;

2. the discipline of repetition;

3. the quest for stillness

4. the veneration of the Holy Name.

---

The Scriptural Roots Of The Jesus Prayer

1. The Jesus Prayer is the fulfillment of Jesus’ command - “in praying” we are “not to heap up empty phrases as the heathen do; for they think that they will be heard for by their many words. Do not be like them” - (Matthew 6:7-8)

2. It is rooted in the Name of the Lord. To invoke God’s name was to place oneself in His Presence within the Old Testament. Jesus is the living Word addressed to all humanity! A name above all other names. “All beings should bend the knee at the name of Jesus” (Phil. 2:9-10). In this Name, demons are cast out (Luke 10:17), prayers are answered (John 14:13,14) and the lame are healed (Acts 3:6-7).

3. The words of the prayer are based in biblical texts - the cry of the blind man near Jericho, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Luke 18:38). The ten lepers who “called to him, Jesus, Master, take pity on us’” (Luke 17:13). Also, the cry for mercy of the publican, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13)

4. In this prayer, the first step of the spiritual journey can be taken. In it is the recognition of our own sinfulness. In it is the plea of a person in desperate need of a Savior. “If we say we have no sin in us, we are deceiving ourselves and refusing to admit the truth.” (1 John 1:8)

   ---

When to Pray it

The Jesus Prayer is recommended following morning prayer, 10-15 minutes at a time. But there is a free use of it. You can go to it at any time of the day or night and has been notably used during times of suffering, concern or mourning. Feel free to pray silently or out loud. Please keep in mind that it is not the “count” that counts, but the closeness you seek with Christ when praying.

I also recommend speaking to a spiritual director for further instruction of the prayer if you choose to make it part of your daily routine.

---

Endless Growth

Growth in prayer is never ending. If such growth ceases, life itself ceases. So goes the way of the heart - it is endless because God is infinite in His Glory. The Jesus Prayer is a signpost on the spiritual road back to the Father. This is a journey that all of us need to take.

Here is a list of videos from Matt Fradd of Pints with Aquinas explaining aspects of The Jesus Prayer, enjoy!

• The Jesus Prayer Might Radically Change Your Prayer Life

• Why's Your Rosary Look Like That? w/ Sr. Natalia

• Eastern Catholicism

  ---

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Nick | Catholic Manhood