The
Jesus Prayer and the Prayer Rope
IN THE FIRST Epistle to the Thessalonians the
Apostle Paul says: "Pray without ceasing." How then is one to pray
unceasingly? By often repeating the Jesus Prayer: "O Lord Jesus Christ, Son
of God, have mercy upon me a sinner." By becoming accustomed to this
appeal, great consolation and the need to continually make this petition will be
felt within, and it will be carried on, as if of itself, within one.
Although in the beginning, the enemy of the
human race offers hindrances to this, by causing great weariness, indolence,
boredom and overcoming sleep, having withstood all these with the help of God,
one will receive peace of soul, spiritual joy, a benevolent disposition towards
people, purification of thoughts, and gratitude towards God.
In the very Name of Jesus a great and graceful
power is present. Many holy and righteous people advise repeating the Jesus
Prayer (also known as the Prayer of heart), as frequently as possible; almost
without interruption.
It is necessary for everyone, whether eating,
drinking, sitting, serving, traveling, or in doing anything, to ceaselessly
lament: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner"
in order that the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in descending into the depths
of our hearts, may humble the serpent of destruction, and save and enlighten the
soul.
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have
mercy upon me, a sinner." Let your attention and instruction be centered on
this. Walking, eating, standing in Church before the beginning of the service,
continue with the prayer on your lips and within your heart. In such a manner,
with the invocation of the Name of God you will find peace, you will attain to
purity of spirit and body and the Holy Spirit, the Origin of all good, will make
for Himself a dwelling within you and will guide you in all purity.
Those who have truly decided to serve the Lord
God must train themselves in the remembrance of God and in unceasing prayer to
Jesus Christ, saying mentally, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy
upon me, a sinner."
Through such activity, and by guarding oneself
from distraction, and with the preservation of peace in one’s conscience, it
is possible to draw near to God and to be united with Him. For, according to the
words of St. Isaac the Syrian, "Except for unceasing prayer we cannot draw
near to God"
The prayer rope is one of the items given to
an Orthodox Christian monk at the rite of tonsure; it is given to him as his
spiritual sword with which he, as a soldier of Christ, must make war against our
spiritual enemy, the devil. This sword is wielded by calling on the name of our
Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ in a plea for mercy, that is by praying
the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a
sinner." This prayer can be said in a shorter form, such as: "Lord
Jesus Christ have mercy on me;" or in a longer form, as: "By the
prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and all the Saints, Lord Jesus Christ have
mercy on me."
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner." |