The Jesus Prayer

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

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

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner. One can use the rosary to structure the prayer in a similar fashion as the rosary but using the 10 beads for the Jesus prayer. Or, if it is possible, one can obtain a Chotki which is used by those in the Eastern Rites to pray the Jesus Prayer with. It can have 33, 50, 100, or 103 beads on which to pray.

I like to pray the Jesus Prayer while sitting cross legged and in a quiet place. During the first part of the prayer, up to ...Living God, I breath in through the nose. During the last part, "have mercy on me a sinner" I breath out through the mouth sometimes speaking the words and sometimes not. The rhythm of the prayer helps one to focus on Jesus and listen to the inspirations of His Holy Spirit.

Sometimes I visualize His coming to me during the first part, essentially breathing Jesus in. During the second part, I sometimes visualize my sin leaving me as I breath out. Sometimes I am prostrate at the foot of His cross in dire need of His mercy. It is a centering prayer. It is a contemplative prayer. It is a prayer that states clearly who He is and who I am. It also brings peace and calm to the soul.

Pax vobis,

J.E.