Most readers in the Western Church know a multitude of common prayer methods that have nourished many on their paths to holiness. Shared devotions like the Holy Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet are recited by millions of Latin Rite Catholics each day. The Jesus prayer, however, is little emphasized in the Western Church’s culture despite being regarded as the most important form of prayer by the Eastern Rites and the Orthodox Church.
This prayer is extremely simple, involving the recitation of one short phrase: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” Typically the devotee aligns the recitation with his breathing, reciting “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” as he inhales and “have mercy on me, a sinner” as he exhales.
Although short and simple, this prayer is packed with theological importance. Through this one sentence the devotee, first of all, professes his faith, recognizing Jesus to be Lord, Christ (derived from “Christos,” a Greek translation of the Hebrew title “Messiah,” which means “anointed”), and the Son of God. The second part of the prayer is also a petition for mercy, making this prayer one of petition as well as an act of contrition. The prayer can, in fact, be used as an act of contrition at sacramental Confession.
Most importantly, however, the prayer involves the recitation of the Holy Name of Jesus. Countless saints have written about how devotion to the Holy Name, including through repeated invocation during the Jesus Prayer, brings about great blessings. St. Paul, for example, wrote that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13), and that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those in earth, and of those under the earth” (Phil 2:10). St. Bernard also preached the devotion to the Holy Name, calling on the faithful to “invoke the Name of life, and life will come back into the soul.” St. Ignatius had such strong devotion to it that he made the Feast of the Holy Name the patronal feast of the Jesuits.
The Jesus Prayer can be recited in a multitude of ways. In the first place, one can set aside time to recite the prayer in a quiet setting, similar to the way that most people say the Rosary. Some people in the East even use a prayer rope, known as a chotki or a komboskini, to count the number of repetitions, similar to the use of Rosary beads. The goal of this method is to rid the mind of distractions and meditate solely on the Holy Name and the mercy of Christ.
Practiced since the days of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, this prayer seeks to lead the faithful on the path towards perfect contemplation. At first, one simply recites the words themselves, saying them even while distracted by other things. Eventually, however, the devotee will clear their mind and focus solely on the words of the prayer, and finally enter an even deeper meditative state, communing with God through the prayer. Theophan the Recluse, a 19th century Orthodox saint, teaches that one who reaches the final state will find that “the prayer is no longer something we do but who we are.”
The second common method of reciting the Jesus Prayer is simply to repeat it while doing other tasks throughout the day. For example, one can repeat the prayer while walking, driving, or performing tasks like washing dishes or studying. Eastern Orthodox monks, including those on Mount Athos, repeat the prayer throughout the entire day, following to the letter the command to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).
However you choose to incorporate it into your spiritual life, the Jesus Prayer is an invaluable way to meditate on Christ’s influence throughout daily life. Although it is often forgotten by the Roman Rite, it is a fantastic addition to anyone’s prayer life.
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Great article!