Concerning the Jesus Prayer from the Jordanville Prayer Book

[尼古拉前执事]

CONCERNING THE JESUS PRAYER

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: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me." 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 will offer 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 thought, 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 as frequently as possible; without interruption. It is necessary for everyone, whether eating, drinking, sitting, serving, travelling, or in doing anything, to ceaselessly lament: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me" 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.

St. Seraphim of Sarov: " 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on 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 entering and departing keep this 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 piety and purity."

Bishop Theophanes the Recluse: "To more conveniently become accustomed to remembering God, the fervent Christian has a special means, namely, to repeat ceaselessly a brief prayer of two or three words. Mostly this is 'Lord, have mercy.' or 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' If you have not yet heard of this, then hear it now, and if you have not done it, then begin from this hour to do it."

Those who have truly decided to serve the Lord God must train themselves in the rememberance of God and in unceasing prayer to Jesus Christ, saying mentally: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on 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" (St. Seraphim of Sarov).

Fr. John of Kronstadt also counselled frequently the use of the Prayer of Jesus.

[Грешник]

Thanks for that Nick!

Juvenaly

[priestmark]

CONCERNING THE JESUS PRAYER
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" (St. Seraphim of Sarov).

"Except for this," but in no way does it necessarily follow that having the intention to become an Orthodox Christian means an instruction to pursue the Jesus Prayer applies to oneself. An unenlightened (un-baptized) pursuit of things beyond one's ken, in pride, is spiritually dangerous. More than one deceived person has "united with" not God, but a created image - an idol constructed from one's own imaginings / fancy.

Some are precocious and can stand and run with little effort (e.g. St Nicholas who, as a nursing child, even refrained from his mother's milk on fast days), but most of us have to crawl before we walk; before we run; before we race; before we draw near to winning the race. Undisciplined training can create a disfigured style that cannot move past the next hurdle.

There is an natural order to things. Intention, catechesis, baptism, growth and alignment with God's Will, and then when you are Orthodox for 7 years you can correct even your bishop as V. Alypy, in his wry humor, said was the way of converts (told to my god-father when he was seven years old in the faith)

After merely reading and practicing things on my own, as soon as I was lead to my spiritual father (Heiromonk Kallistos - founder of Holy Cross Hermitage) I was absolutely forbidden to say the Jesus Prayer. Afer he baptised me, and after my first Communion he however gave me a prayer rope and instructed me otherwise. YMMV.

o.Mark