The Jesus Prayer

The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.

Many religious cultures use litanies as a method of praying. The word "litany" literally means, "petition" - or "rogation" in Latin. Litanies are made to be repeated; single or like phrases recited, sometimes chanted over and over again ("re-petition") so that the person praying is caught up in the prayer itself. During the recitation of the Divine Praises, for example, the celebrant says, "Blessed be the name of Jesus," which is echoed by the faithful.

The Orthodox call this "prayer of the heart" - prayer that fills the entire consciousness; spontaneously offered by the whole being and not forced by only the lips or the intellect. If recited continually and with perseverance and recollection, the heart and intellect become one and the prayer in a sense offers itself. The constant repetition of the name Jesus or "Invocation of the Name" is now known as simply, The Jesus Prayer.

"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner" - this drawn from the publican's prayer from the parable in Luke's gospel (Lk 18:13). The Catechism (CCC 2667) has this to say about the prayer: "By it the heart is opened to human wretchedness and the Savior's mercy."

We could do well by acknowledging our human weakness in imitation of the faith and humility of blind Bartimaeus as he similarly called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!" and when asked what he wished, replied simply: "Lord, that I may see." (Mk 10:46-52)

From The Holy Name Society

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