The Jesus Prayer

The Jesus Prayer is a simple prayer
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

The tradition of the Jesus Prayer goes back to the “prayer of the mind,” recommended by the ancient monks of the Egyptian desert. It was continued as the “prayer of the heart” in Byzantine Hesychasm, a monastic system that seeks to achieve divine quietness.

There are many ways to approach this ancient and simple form of prayer. Here Canon Robin Morrison shares a little about the prayer and then leads us in a guided practice. We pray it is a practice that blesses you.

The Rosary, traditionally used to meditate on the life of Christ and the mysteries of the faith, can also serve as a powerful tool for praying the Jesus Prayer, a simple yet profound invocation of God’s mercy. Although it is a Catholic tradition, the Rosary is not confined solely to Catholics; its structure and rhythm have been embraced by Christians of many backgrounds for deepening their prayer life. By adapting the structure of the Rosary, each decade can be dedicated to a different variation of the Jesus Prayer, allowing the prayer to be deeply personalized and extended in its intercession. Between each decade, the “Our Father” can be recited, serving as a bridge and a reminder of our union with God the Father. The specific petitions of the Jesus Prayer can be recited as follows across the five decades:

1. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us”
2. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on them”
3. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on he”
4. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on she”
5. “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”

This practice offers a way to intercede for others, seek God’s mercy for particular individuals, and grow in personal humility and spiritual closeness to Christ. The use of the Rosary in this way not only enriches the experience of prayer but also deepens one’s understanding of mercy, compassion, and divine love, making it a versatile and spiritually nourishing practice for all Christians.