The Power of the Jesus Prayer

St. Mother Theresa often reminded her sisters, “Don’t search for Jesus in far lands. He is not there. He is close to you. He is in you.” She understood the need to listen for His voice in silence.

The idea of having a personal relationship with Jesus goes back to the Desert Fathers in 3rd century Egypt. The Jesus Prayer is one way to help us achieve that goal.

It is a simple prayer, one that can be repeated silently, that uses repetition to help us focus and block out unwanted thoughts. The words are as follows:

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

While historically not as well known in the Christian West, it has always been an important component of the spirituality of the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

The prayer was particularly esteemed by the early Church Fathers as a method of clearing and opening up the mind and then the heart would follow.  

The prayer has been widely taught and discussed throughout the history of the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The ancient and original form did not include the final words "a sinner", which were added centuries later.

The Eastern Orthodox theology of the Jesus Prayer as expressed in the 14th century was generally rejected by Latin Church theologians until the 20th century, when Pope John Paul II likened the meditative quality of the Jesus Prayer to that of the Catholic rosary.

A formula similar to the standard form of the Jesus Prayer is found in a letter attributed to John Chrysostom, who died in AD 407. This "Letter to an Abbot" speaks of "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on us" as a ceaseless prayer in contemplation.

The beauty of this prayer is that it keeps your mind focused on Jesus and his mercy

So, how should one pray this simple prayer? 

·       Find a quiet place and a comfortable chair

·       Close your eyes and breathe slowly…inhale and then exhale

·       Inhale           Lord Jesus Christ

·       Exhale          Son of God

·       Inhale           Have mercy on me

·       Exhale          A sinner

·       REPEAT…and after a short time, your mind will focus and shut out unwanted thoughts. Allow yourself a few minutes at first, and then slowly extend the time of prayer.  

The repetition of the prayer is an attempt to change oneself through a relationship with Jesus. The goal is to make this prayer so connected with one’s breathing that one can truly “pray without ceasing.”  Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.