JESUS PRAYER

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The Jesus Prayer has many different forms.  Perhaps the most common is:

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

Other variations include:

• Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.
• Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
• Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy upon us.
• Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
• Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.
• Lord Jesus, have mercy.
• Lord Jesus Christ, by the prayers of Our Lady, have mercy on me. 
• O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

Holly Fiala, in the Feb. 2002 edition of Feast or Fast – shared two modifications that she uses as multi-purpose spiritual band-aids:

• Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and never let me forget the needs of others.
• Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and remind me of your enduring presence.

The two common elements in the Jesus Prayer are the name of Jesus and an appeal for mercy.  Asking for mercy is not just petitioning for the pardon of one's sins, but for God's grace and loving kindness.  The exact wording of the prayer is not important.  If it works for you, it works for God.

The Scriptural roots of the prayer are:

1. The cry of the blind man sitting at the side of the road near Jericho – "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me" (Luke 18:38)
2. The ten lepers who called to Jesus –  "Jesus, Master, take pity on us" (Luke 17:13)
3. The cry for mercy of the publican, variously reported as  – "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" (Luke 18:14), “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” (Matthew 9:27), and “Jesus,     Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:48)

Devotees suggest using the prayer often for a month until it becomes a part of your nature and it takes on a life of its own within you.  Use it when you get angry or annoyed with another.  Use it when you are tempted to do something wrong. 

The Jesus Prayer can be said in rhythm with breathing, machinery, clocks, or even footsteps while walking.  If you practice yoga, mentally pray “Lord Jesus Christ,” while you are inhaling, and “have mercy on me,” while exhaling. 

Some people use the prayer as a mantra for contemplative prayer, although some experts think it's a bit long for that.  It's up to you.  The prayer is commonly repeated three times.  It is often used personally as a centering prayer before other devotions, but, of course, may be used at any time.

Many regular practitioners find that their overall prayer life and relationship with God improves, and that they are less likely to be upset with the problems inherent in everyday life.  In The Way of
the Pilgrim, the anonymous narrator slowly increases his repetition of the prayer to 12,000 times a day, but it unlikely that most spiritual advisors would recommend that.  At some point you and God probably would both be better served if you looked into other spiritual avenues such as contemplative prayer, intercessory prayer, lectio divina, and good works.

The Trisagion has many virtues similar to that of the Jesus Prayer.
 

From St. Paul's Library

Praying the name of Jesus: The ancient wisdom of the Jesus Prayer.  Wilfrid Stinissen and Lev Gillet, Ligouri, no date. 132 pages. [272.721/STI] The first essay by "On the praying the name of Jesus," by Lev Gillet, concerns itself with praying the name of Jesus alone, which is not the Jesus Prayer in its classic sense.  It seems to have been lifted in unedited form from the personal journal of a monk.  That the essay is touted as "classic," seems to mean here that the it is old enough that the publisher didn't have to pay royalties to the author.  Yes, there is a magic in the name of Jesus, but it is to be felt in one's heart and will do you little good pre-digested by someone else.  The second and concluding essay, "On praying the name of Jesus," by Wilfrid Stinissen, at least addresses the Jesus Prayer as most people know it.  The problem is, it doesn't really say anything.  It's rather like a rocking chair, in that it makes you feel like you're doing something, but doesn't get you anywhere. While the Jesus Prayer has a depth beyond its apparent simplicity, this book plumbs only the shallows.  Your time would be far better spent praying the prayer and letting yoyur heart teach you.  D     REVIEWER'S NOTE:  Save yourself the time and trouble of reading this book.  You can add just as much to your knowledge of the Jesus Prayer by reading the two-page essay "On Practicing the Jesus Prayer," by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, found at the Orthodox Christian Information Center website, http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/ignaty_jesus.htm, or at Our Lady of Balamand Patriarchal Monastery website at http://www.balamandmonastery.org.lb/jesus_prayer.htm#art