THE JESUS
PRAYER
Today too many Christians are caught up in
the cares of the world and have forgotten that
These first Christians understood the
healing, comforting power or the Name of Jesus, and they built a simple prayer
around this "Name that is above all other names ... the Name by which we
are saved" [Acts 4:12; Phil 2:9-11]. This earliest Christian prayer is
called The Jesus Prayer;
HAVE MERCY ON ME, A SINNER
This simple prayer, prayed with faith and
with perseverance, calls forth the Holy Spirit in our hearts and, in time,
gives birth to the experienced presence of
The Jesus Prayer is again spreading among
Christians in every walk of life. Many of today's Christians are experiencing
what the very first Christians experienced, the presence of
At first, we may need the help of a simple
breathing technique to get started, as a means of quietly "centering"
on The Jesus Prayer until such later time as the Holy Spirit inspires this
prayer within us with less and less effort on our part.
Wherever you are, you can pray The Jesus
Prayer. Begin by taking a few deep breaths, trying to become more relaxed with
each breath, mindful that the Holy Spirit dwells within you as Guide and
Helper.
- Breath
slowly------- IN ------Lord Jesus Christ
- Breath
slowly------- OUT ------Son of God
- Breath
slowly------- IN ------Have mercy
- Breath
slowly------- OUT ------On me a sinner
This simplest of prayers, prayed mentally for
15 minutes or so in the morning and again in the evening, and called upon from
time to time throughout the day, will gradually, almost imperceptibly, lead us
into the presence of Jesus in our thoughts. In time, this prayer will begin to
"descend" and strike roots in our heart, where its continued practice
will ever deepen the reality of
Won't you start praying it now and experience
a change in your life?
ADDRESS
COMMENTS AND/QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PAGE TO
OR
Return
to The Catholic Charismatic Churchsm
OR
Return to The FAQ Page
OR
Return to Msgr. MARTIN’S page
Revised 15 APRIL 2008