Blog Post by Mary Katherine May
Who can any person change but themselves? It is the result of the transformation within our self that changes others. In matters of Christian faith, the transformation enacted to committed believer, a servant of the Lord, is performed by God.
So many Christians pray the Jesus Prayer. It is a blessing requested in order to be a blessing to, and for others. It is an ancient prayer that when prayed we join the chant of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ throughout the centuries.
Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.
One sentence. 11 words of which the longest has six characters. The prayer can be carried with you in your heart and lips wherever you go.
St. Hesychios the Priest on the Jesus Prayer
Source: The Philokalia, Vol. 1
The single-phrased Jesus prayer destroys and consumes the deceits of the demons. For when we invoke Jesus, God and Son of God, constantly and tirelessly, He does not allow them to project in the mind's mirror even the first hint of their infiltration--that is to say, their provocation--or any form, nor does He allow them to have any converse with the heart.
If no demonic form enters the heart, it will be empty of evil thoughts, as we have said; for it is the demons' habit to converse with the soul by means of evil thoughts and so deceitfully to pervert it.Resources for the Jesus Prayer
Jesus Prayer, Prayer of the Heart from OrthodoxPrayer.org
Includes a downloadable trifold brochure
The Jesus Prayer at the Orthodox Church in America website, OCA.org
Orthodox Prayer Ropes from St. Paisius Monastery in Arizona.
Many books have been written on the Jesus Prayer and there are no-cost resources available on the internet.
Rick & Mary May own the Christian-based webstore, QualityMusicandBooks.com.
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