The Jesus Prayer
Twelve words at the heart of Eastern Orthodox spirituality.
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Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
have mercy on me,
a sinner.
Amen.
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About this prayer
The Jesus Prayer is the breath prayer of the Christian East — repeated quietly, sometimes for hours, in rhythm with the breath. It draws on two cries from the gospels: the tax collector's "God, be merciful to me, a sinner" and blind Bartimaeus's "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." Twelve words that contain the whole gospel.
When to pray it
Whenever your hands are free and your mind is wandering. In the car, on a walk, before sleep. As a thread that holds an ordinary day together.