The Tradition of reciting The Jesus Prayer is referenced as early as 270 AD, in monastic communities, and was first introduced and practiced by the Desert Fathers.
The Jesus Prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me”
This simple prayer combines adoration of the Glory of God with humble recognition of our sin.
The Jesus Prayer is a form of meditation, without relying on mental images or intellectual understanding but focusing on being attentive; recognizing the continual Presence of God, listening intently for His Response, and recognizing His Action in our lives. The intention of this prayer is to pursue holiness (through humility and purification) and union with God, rather than attaining insights into theological Truths.
The Jesus Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me” is a statement of Faith, confession of sin, and a plea for God’s Mercy, all at the same time. Through simple and constant repetition of this prayer, we try to maintain awareness that we are in God’s Presence. We are to prioritize attention with the heart over the mind. We are encouraged to recite the prayer thoughtfully and intentionally, without bringing to mind a visual image, and believing that the Lord sees us and listens to us at all times.
I’ve been studying The Desert Fathers’ teaching on Prayer, primarily through this awesome book The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology*
To make it easier to understand and keep it straight from the teaching on Prayer of other Saints and Theologians I have been studying, I put together a little Summary Sticky-Note and compiled my notes on the Desert Fathers’ Teaching on Prayer including ‘prayer-requisites’ and Prompts to Pray!
I will be adding over 30 PDF Note Bundles gradually to this NEW Saints’ MasterClass on Prayer Series over at Arma Dei!
Saints Prayer Master Class: The Desert Fathers PDF Note Bundle
Following a brief introduction of the Desert Fathers and The Jesus Prayer, I present Prayer-Requisites: important virtues, dispositions, and practices for personal prayer, based on the Key Writings of the Desert Fathers.
Each PDF Note Bundle includes a Summary Sticky-Note, along with insights into prayer and how the Desert Fathers might prompt us to pray.
Prompt me to pray “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me.”
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I receive a small commission on your purchase through this link, but it does not inflate the price you pay.
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