About this book: The Jesus Prayer

"This is a way of praying that can transform the pray-er into a true disciple."

About this Book:

Discover a hidden treasure passed down to us through the ancient traditions of Eastern Christianity:

Lord Jesus Christ
Son of God
Have mercy on me

Readers are invited to plumb the depths of this short prayer passed down to us through the ancient traditions of Eastern Christianity.

"Some of the teachings from The Jesus Prayer that remain with me: the goal of our spiritual life is love, and the Jesus Prayer is a means to that end. Being grasped by love becomes a reality for those who pray this prayer with concentration and faith. Time and again, the refrain "with the mind in the heart" is mentioned to highlight the importance of integrating the cognitive and affective domains of our lives. The short, simple, and repetitious prayer is all about experiencing the presence of Jesus in our lives. This prayer is Trinitarian in that it is a way of union with God in Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Silence and quietness are dispositions that foster remembrance of the Lord and are integral components of this form of prayer. Lastly, Barrington-Ward makes it clear that the Jesus Prayer is part of a larger context, that is, part of one's whole faith life and worship. More than that, this prayer has the potential to transform us through the power of the Spirit so that the mess and muddle of life (our disappointments, disillusionments, and disintegration) are confronted in the depth of prayer and can receive the grace of healing. In other words, this prayer is not some isolated, disconnected prayer form but, rather, one that contains an utter realism.

"The Jesus Prayer is ultimately a homecoming. It is a means of bringing us into the presence of a loving God who takes us by the hand and never lets us go. Jesus takes the dark, sinful side of our life and draws it into his light and compassion. Though this prayer St. Paul's admonition becomes a reality: "...pray without ceasing…" (1 Thess 5:17). Through this prayer we come to discern God's will and then do it with love."

Bishop Robert Morneau
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Features & Benefits:

• Introduces readers to spiritual mentors in both the Christian East and West

About the Author:

Simon Barrington-Ward was General Secretary of Church Missionary Society (1975-1985), became Bishop of Coventry in 1985, and eventually retired to Cambridge. In 2000, Barrington-Ward was appointed Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. He travels widely, speaking on prayer and spirituality and the Jesus Prayer in particular. Through writing the original edition of The Jesus Prayer, he came to know Brother Ramon, SSF, and they collaborated on Praying the Jesus Prayer Together (Bible Reading Fellowship, UK, 2001).

What people are saying about this book: "I know of no other book that highlights the rich texture of the communal praying of the Jesus Prayer as this little volume. From the first pages I was drawn into this "travelogue of the spirit" in which the reader is introduced to spiritual mentors in both the Christian East and West. For those who long for inner stillness, true integrity of spirit, a life of love, this presentation of the continual uninterrupted breathing and calling upon Christ Jesus, Son of God and God himself, will open up the riches of traditions in contemplative prayer rooted in the communion of the Church."
- Kathryn J. Hermes, FSP, Author of Beginning Contemplative Prayer, and Holding Onto Hope

"The joy, peace, and evangelical light that are the fruit of the practice of the Jesus Prayer pervade this presentation. This is both a practically accessible and theologically balanced exposition of the treasures of this rich tradition of Eastern Christian prayer."
- Khaled E. Anatolios, PhD, Associate Professor of Historical Theology, Boston College

"This way of praying can transform the pray-er into a true disciple, one who not only prays but does the will of God. The Jesus Prayer, when guided by the Holy Spirit, empowers us to do the truth in love."
- Bishop Robert Morneau, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Product Details:
Binding: Paperback
Trim size: 5" x 7 1/4"
Pages: 144

Keywords:Contemplation - prayer - r - mystics - traditional prayer - Eastern - Byzantine - mantra - Russian Orthodox -Way of the Pilgrim