The Jesus prayer

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A wonderful prayer which I say daily for Quiet Prayer, and throughout the day.

Jim
 
The Jesus Prayer is to the Orthodox, as the Rosary is to Catholics. Most Orthodox are introduced to the Jesus Prayer through the book, The Way of the Pilgrim, author unknown.
 
I enjoyed reading “The Way of the Pilgrim, And the Pilgrim Makes His Way,” years ago.

It lead me to purchase the four volumes of the Philokalia, of which I only read the 1st Volume.

Using the name of Jesus in prayer, is well rooted in Catholic mysticism as Peter Kreeft points out.

Ironically, what Peter Kreeft wrote in the OP article, is what Fr Keating, Fr Pennington and Fr Laird have written on all along. In fact it’s as though Kreeft is using their words almost. For some reason, their words were not received here as well as Peter Kreeft’s.

Oh well, God reaches people where they’re at, regardless who it comes from…

Jim
 
The Jesus Prayer in Latin (for you Latin-lovers):
Domine Jesu Christe, Filius Dei, miserere me peccatorem!
 
Remember, my Orthodox priest, Fr. Gregory, said it doesn’t matter if you can say a 1,000 Jesus Prayers - quality over quantity. That means really mean what you say. You are talking to Christ Jesus, God Almighty, in the flesh & you get distracted. He’s not going to grant your request. It’s like asking a teacher for permission to use a classroom for a project and you don’t look them in the eye, then they don’t let you use the room.
God bless. :signofcross::highprayer:
 
JimR-OCDS said:
I enjoyed reading “The Way of the Pilgrim, And the Pilgrim Makes His Way,” years ago.

It lead me to purchase the four volumes of the Philokalia, of which I only read the 1st Volume.
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I was warned by my Orthodox parish priest not to read the Philokalia, because i was not ready for it, so i never did read any of the volumes. I’m not really sure where the Catholic Church stands on Hesychasm. The Jesus Prayer, as practiced by the Russian peasant in The Way of the Pilgrim, has been called a hesychast practice.
 
Otche_Nash said:
I was warned by my Orthodox parish priest not to read the Philokalia, because i was not ready for it, so i never did read any of the volumes. I’m not really sure where the Catholic Church stands on Hesychasm. The Jesus Prayer, as practiced by the Russian peasant in The Way of the Pilgrim, has been called a hesychast practice.
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I wonder why he told you that? The peasant in the way of the Pilgrim, although a beginner in prayer, was directed immediately toward reading the Philokalia.

From what I was told. volume IV takes some shots are Rome, but I never got that far.

For me, in volume I, the part that talks about the Temptations of Christ in the desert, was awesome.

From what I remember, those temptations are the greatest of all temptations to over come all others being lesser. It gets into the explanation of why, if I remember correctly, but I’d have to review to be sure.

Jim
 
For those who may be a little confused, The Eastern Catholics often practice the Jesus prayer.
 
Thank you for the replies.

Interesting that Kreeft did not mention this prayer in the context of Eastern Catholics - in terms of theJesus prayer already existing in the Catholic tradition. Maybe that would make it more acceptable to a wider audience. (I have no issues whatsoever regarding Eastern Orthodoxy but I know people who do, unfortunately.)

For those of you who are experienced with this prayer, could you tell me more about the way you pray? Do you use prayer beads/the rosary? Do you stick to a certain number of repetitions or not?

I’d be interested to hear more from Jim about the link to Catholic contemplative practices if that’s ok. I’m slowly moving in that direction, and it sounds like this prayer could really help me on my journey.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
Thank you for the replies.

Interesting that Kreeft did not mention this prayer in the context of Eastern Catholics - in terms of theJesus prayer already existing in the Catholic tradition. Maybe that would make it more acceptable to a wider audience. (I have no issues whatsoever regarding Eastern Orthodoxy but I know people who do, unfortunately.)

For those of you who are experienced with this prayer, could you tell me more about the way you pray? Do you use prayer beads/the rosary? Do you stick to a certain number of repetitions or not?

I’d be interested to hear more from Jim about the link to Catholic contemplative practices if that’s ok. I’m slowly moving in that direction, and it sounds like this prayer could really help me on my journey.
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The Orthodox (and many Eastern Catholics) often use a chotki, which is like a rosary. It has a specific number of knots in it. You can do it how ever you want, whether you do a specific number of repetitions, or you set aside a short amount of time. You can use the rosary. Start out slow, and focus on the words you say. As someone mentioned, it is about quality not quantity. It is better to say it good once, than a thousand times poorly. Clear your mind and focus on the words. Maybe set apart ten minutes in the morning and in the evening to start.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
Thank you for the replies.

Interesting that Kreeft did not mention this prayer in the context of Eastern Catholics - in terms of theJesus prayer already existing in the Catholic tradition. Maybe that would make it more acceptable to a wider audience. (I have no issues whatsoever regarding Eastern Orthodoxy but I know people who do, unfortunately.)

For those of you who are experienced with this prayer, could you tell me more about the way you pray? Do you use prayer beads/the rosary? Do you stick to a certain number of repetitions or not?

I’d be interested to hear more from Jim about the link to Catholic contemplative practices if that’s ok. I’m slowly moving in that direction, and it sounds like this prayer could really help me on my journey.
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Contra Mundum -
The article you posted was very well written … and very much in keeping with the recent threads on these forums that discussed “acquired contemplation.” It is a grace if you are being called to pray this way! 🙂

For myself, I was never really conscious of praying in the strict manner of the Jesus Prayer but in hindsight this is very much how I do pray. It is how I’ve learned (or, rather, have been taught) to stay close to the humanity of Jesus when my natural tendency would be to get lost in His divinity. Don’t know if that makes sense.

So …

when I am in the midst of other people my prayer tends to be: Je-sus, Mer-cy or Je-sus, Bless-Them. When alone: Je-sus, My-Lord or Je-sus, Glor-y. The syllables do sometimes match up to breathing … although that’s not something I necessarily try to do … it just sort of happens. Sometimes.

I always thought of this as aspirational prayer in the manner of Brother Lawrence’s “Practice of the Presence of God.” Which, at times, simplifies to the mono-syllabic prayer of “The Cloud of Unknowing” … God. Other times the need for even a word or aspiration diminishes to something akin to a simple gaze … an intuitive “knowing” of His presence without the need for words at all. This is what some theologians call the Prayer of Simplicity … or, in the words of the catechism, “I look at Him and He looks at me.” Throughout all, this way of simplified prayer (whether using words or not) immerses us into the Sacrament of the Present Moment spelled out by de Caussade in his wonderful book “Abandonment to Divine Providence.” These, of course, are western mystics who speak of the same realities our eastern brothers do.

The difference, I suppose, is that the western approach is more a matter of intention … the use of a word or short aspiration to bring us back into God’s presence whenever we notice we’ve strayed. Whereas the eastern approach may be more of a matter of attention … repetition of the word or aspiration in the hopes we don’t stray in the first place.

Perhaps the difference seems subtle or inconsequential … but in practice I think it’s very real.

Many blessings to you! 🙂

Dave 🙂
 
Also, there is a very good book by Kerry Walters called “A Retreat with Brother Lawrence and the Russian Pilgrim” which presents aspirational prayer from both the eastern and western perspective … in very simple and easy to understand language. The discussion on the “monkey mind” was especially helpful … a phenomena anyone who prays this way is sure to encounter sooner or later. 🙂
 
jimmy said:
The Orthodox (and many Eastern Catholics) often use a chotki, which is like a rosary. It has a specific number of knots in it. You can do it how ever you want, whether you do a specific number of repetitions, or you set aside a short amount of time. You can use the rosary. Start out slow, and focus on the words you say. As someone mentioned, it is about quality not quantity. It is better to say it good once, than a thousand times poorly. Clear your mind and focus on the words. Maybe set apart ten minutes in the morning and in the evening to start.
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Thank you. I will use the rosary, as I am used to praying with it - it helps me keep the focus.
 
DBT said:
Contra Mundum -

The difference, I suppose, is that the western approach is more a matter of intention … the use of a word or short aspiration to bring us back into God’s presence whenever we notice we’ve strayed. Whereas the eastern approach may be more of a matter of attention … repetition of the word or aspiration in the hopes we don’t stray in the first place.

Perhaps the difference seems subtle or inconsequential … but in practice I think it’s very real.

Many blessings to you! 🙂

Dave 🙂
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Dave,

thank you for your insight. It is very helpful, as usual. Yes, we’ve had quite a few posts on acquired contemplation lately and some good discussions. I’ve learned so much from them.

What you say about the difference between intention and attention makes perfect sense to me. Being of a western tradition I am used to placing more emphasis on intention, and the rest being details. This has become a natural way to pray for me and even with a prayer such as the rosary I sometimes feel like my mind - the words of the prayer - drift a bit, while I am aware of the intention with my whole being. I feel like in this way I am in tune with God, and words are unnecessary.

What I have read about the Jesus prayer and the importance of focusing on the words seems a bit rigid to me, probably because I am not used to that way of praying. I guess it is a question of habit and experience, as well as our ability to pray in different ways. I am sure I can only benefit from praying the holy name of Jesus in a reverent way, completely focused on what I am saying. His name is more than a ‘sacred word’ that is used to quiet the mind and bring it back to God.
 
I don’t use a Rosary, when I say the Jesus Prayer. I find that it adds a distraction for me.

For myself. with eyes closed while sitting in a comfortable chair, I turn to Christ dwelling within. I begin saying the full Jesus Prayer, silently and reverently, while remaining focused on God’s presence. Eventually, I’m only saying the first two words, “Lord Jesus.”

It’s not the words which have the focus of my intention, but being in the presence of Jesus.

When I find I’ve drifted away from my focus by some erroneous thought or other distraction, I merely return to, saying, “Lord Jesus.”

Throughout the day, whatever I’m doing, the Jesus Prayer is with me and I’m often reciting it, especially when I’ve done something or had a mental thought that is not proper.

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

FYI, I say the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, in the similar way as the Jesus Prayer, except in this case, I do use my Rosary.

Jim
 
Contra_Mundum said:
For those of you who are experienced with this prayer, could you tell me more about the way you pray? .
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I use beads for the Rosary, and a prayer rope for the Jesus Prayer. I was afflicted with a bazaar health issue, a couple of broken dental tools were ultimately discovered in my jaw. But i’m still going through a long detox, similar to botulism poisoning. I sit in the sauna daily and use the Jesus Prayer to endure it. So for me it is a penance, an expiation, a reparation directed either to my own temporal consequences, my children’s, relative’s, or to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a shouldering of His Cross.
 
Contra_Mundum said:
Here is a link to a piece by Peter Kreeft about the Jesus prayer.

bathedinlight.weebly.com/a-catholic-introduction-to-the-orthodox-jesus-prayer.html

It is a beautifully written article that goes to the heart of this prayer. I feel very motivated to start praying this way.

Has anyone had any experience with it and would like to discuss it?
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Great article. I love the way Peter Kreeft writes! This is a good reminder for me to get back to the Jesus Prayer. I would like to make or order a chotki to help me.

Thanks for posting.
 
Frank Sheed has written an explanation of how the soul animates the body. It is the principle of energy shooting thru each part giving it life. It is not poured into the body, but rather a life giving principle energizing every part something like electricity.

When we were baptized, the Holy Spirit came into the soul and make it his temple, his dwelling place within us. The soul was filled with the spiritual life of grace, sanctifying grace, of Jesus Christ, making us his special brothers/sisters thru his very own sharing of divine life of sonship. We now can truely say to God, “Father”, with deep appreciation that he loves us that much without us doing one ounce of anything to bring this about.

Knowing that this transformation of the soul, and knowing that this divine life in our soul, and that the soul is energizing the complete body and is in every part, we can then appreciate being the true sons/daughters of God not only made in his likeness, but having his life within our very body.

We are completely in God and one with him, saturated in his very own goodness and love, the divine presence.

I believe this is something of what Brother Lawerence was speaking of, the reflection of his oneness with us because of the Trinity’s love and life within us.

Just knowing this thruout the day as much as possible just makes all the difference, that is the “love gaze” of the Father, the oneness of the most Holy Spirit, and the spiritual blood of the life of Jesus’ grace pulsating thru our soul and body.

“My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. All men shall call me blessed.”

We are truely blessed to be similiar to Mary, the arks of the covenant. Now I know how she felt.
 
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