"Be still and know that I AM." Psalm 45:10

This icon of Christ the eternal Tao and Logos is called:
Nymphios - Greek, "Bridegroom"
John the Baptist, among others, calls Christ the Bridegroom (John 3:29-30)
Ecce Homo - Latin, "Behold the Man"
When Pilate presented Christ, mocked and beaten, to the angry crowd he said, "Behold the Man" (John 19:5)

Just as Jesus Christ, the eternal Tao and Logos, emptied Himself completely as a gift to us, so too we must empty ourselves as a complete gift to Him. One way we engage in mutual self-communication with God is prayer.

The Jesus Prayer

Of all prayers, my favorite is called "the Jesus Prayer" (also known as "the unceasing prayer" and "the prayer of silence"). The words are simply

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

How to pray the Jesus Prayer

When beginning to pray the Jesus Prayer, assume a posture in which you can be attentive. Many of the ancient saints stood in an "orans" posture (with arms bent forward from the elbows, palms up receptively), or knelt with their heads bowed. You may follow their example, or you may choose to sit or lie on your back (like St. Francis)--as long as you can remain attentive and receptive.

You may say the words of the prayer aloud or silently, as long as the meaning of each word, as you pray it, is your focus of attention. It is normal for the prayer to synchronize first with your breathing, and later with your heartbeat. I pray the invocation (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God) while inhaling and the petition (have mercy on me, a sinner) while exhaling. This signifies receptivity to the divine Name and emptying of the self.

Many people use a prayer rope (c.f. bottom of page) to help focus their attention on the prayer, and to count if they are just beginning. Beginners might start with fifty or a hundred prayers a day, increasing the number per day each week if they can remain attentive. With perseverance, the prayer becomes habitual and, in time, unceasing.

Yet saying the words of this (or any other) prayer alone is nothing--it does not unify you with God. The same goes for posture, or rhythm of breathing. The words, the posture, and other external elements of the prayer are intended only to aid or dispose you to prayer. They are a great help. They should not be a focus or distraction. They are not, futhermore, a "talisman" or "magic words" or a "technique" for effecting divine communion. It is always good to remember that true prayer is God-given rather than man-made. With His grace we can prepare and persevere, but without His help we can do nothing. After all, "no one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit" (1Corinthians 12:3).

The Jesus Prayer, in addition to being a prayer of the lips, must become a prayer of the mind. You must be attentive to God, mentally focused on the "one thing needful"--Jesus Christ. The prayer must, furthermore, become prayer of the heart, of the will. This attentiveness is deeper and more open to God, accompanied by (or at the very least open to) faith, hope, love, thanksgiving, devotion and submission to God's will, and other virtues.

In the Jesus Prayer, heart addresses heart (communion between your own heart and the Heart of Jesus). If you seek Jesus, you may receive profound joy, peace, contentment, and consolation, even in the midst of intense physical, emotional, and spiritual trials. Do not despair or give up when you do not feel emotional highs, because God uses such "dry" and "desolate" or "dark" times for our growth. Persevere. If you seek joy, peace, contentment, and consolation rather than Jesus, you will miss them all. He will bless each person who seeks Him according to his or her capacity (this capacity can grow). As one holy man once said "if fulfillment is delayed, this may be because the person praying is not yet ready to receive what he asks."

The Jesus Prayer echoes the Gospel words of the humble who seek union with God and the healing and wholeness it brings (Luke 17:13, 18:14, 18:38). Its deepest level is prayer of the heart, when the Jesus Prayer is no longer what we do but who we are (a temple of the Holy Spirit, a spiritual bride of Christ)--a true vocation. Then we know God's boundless Presence and communion with Him at the fullest depth of our being. Only God can decide when we are ready for this. We may have ecstatic experiences and we may not. Seek only Him: Jesus Christ the eternal Tao and Logos.

The name of Jesus is at the heart of Christian prayer. All liturgical prayers conclude with the words "through our Lord Jesus Christ." The Hail Mary reaches its high point in the words "blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." The Eastern prayer of the heart, the Jesus Prayer, says: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Many Christians, such as St. Joan of Arc, have died with the one word "Jesus" on their lips. Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 435. See also paragraphs 2709-2724 on contemplative prayer.

Caution: Never embark on a perilous spiritual journey without reliable directions and a guide, because there are many ways to leave the true path and fall into serious danger. Study and meditate on the Gospels (and all the scriptures) regularly, consult the writings of the saints who have gone before us, and seek the frequent cousel of a holy and orthodox spiritual director (e.g. a monk, nun, deacon, priest, etc.). Participate in sacraments like confession/reconciliation and the Eucharist, and cultivate virtue. Just as a "city slicker" shouldn't wander into the woods without training, provisions, and a reliable guide, we should seek and accept help for this journey.

Recommended books (don't take my advice, take theirs I am only a beginner)

About or related to the Jesus Prayer:
Living the Jesus Prayer by Irma Zaleski (Continuum Publishing)
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (Whitaker House)
The Way of a Pilgrim by Anonymous (translated by Helen Bacovcin, forward by Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J.; Image Books)
Prayer of the heart by Fr. George Maloney (currently out-of-print)

Other valuable books on prayer or Christian mysticism:
Daily Readings with St. Teresa of Avila (Templegate)
The Interior Castle, The Way of Perfection, and The Life of Teresa of Jesus by St. Teresa of Avila (Image Books)
The Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila volumes 1-3 (Institute of Carmelite Studies, 1-800-832-8489)
Daily Readings with St. John of the Cross (Templegate)
The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross (Institute of Carmelite Studies) - including Ascent of Mount Carmel, Dark Night of the Soul, Spiritual Canticle of the Soul, and more
Daily Readings with St. Francis of Assisi (Templegate)
St. Francis of Assisi: Writings and Early Biographies edited by Habig (Franciscan) - everything you ever wanted to know about St. Francis in one great volume
Francis and Clare: the Complete Works (Paulist Press) - the complete writings of Sts. Franics & Clare, without the early biographies included by Habig
Story of a Soul sometimes called Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux by St. Therese of Lisieux (Image Books)
Maximus Confessor: Selected Writings (Paulist Press)
The Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola (translated by Puhl; Loyola University Press)
Spiritual Direction and Spiritual Directors: St. Francis de Sales, St. Teresa of Avila, Thomas a Kempis, and St. John of the Cross compiled by Joseph Paul Kozlowski (Queenship)
Do It At Home Retreat, based on St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises, by Andre Ravier (Ignatius Press)
God's Community of Love: Living With the Indwelling Trinityby Fr. George Maloney
Called to Intimacy: Living in the Indwelling Presence by Fr. George Maloney
Entering into the Heart of Jesus: Meditations on the Indwelling Trinity of St. John's Gospel by Fr. George Maloney
The Mystery of Christ in You: The Mystical Vision of Saint Paul by Fr. George Maloney
Some Aspects of Christian Meditation by the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (at the Holy See) - Consider this a correction (if necessary) to anything I have written.
The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli (TAN Books)
The Way to Christ: Spiritual Exercises by Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II (Harper Collins)
Total Surrender by Mother Teresa (Servant; see also other Mother Teresa writings)
The Interior Carmel by John C. H. Wu (Sheed & Ward; out of print) - Sts. Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Therese of Lisieux were all Carmelites, this is about Carmelite spirituality
Fire Within by Thomas Dubay, S.M. (Ignatius Press) - on Sts. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila and their spirituality
The Art of Praying by Romano Guardini (Sophia)
Prayer: the Great Conversation by Peter Kreeft (Ignatius Press)
Prayers of the Women Mystics by Ronda Chervin

Icon & Book Service Eastern Catholic & Orthodox books, icons, incense, prayer ropes, CDs, etc.	Newman Bookstore one of the largest Catholic bookstores in the United States	Pauline Books & Media international chain of Catholic bookstores, Daughters of St. Paul	Bibliofind search for out-of-print and used books
These suggestions are intended to be helpful and are entirely unsolicited.

Learn more about our most holy immortal ancestors - get some reading ideas!
Consider going on a retreat

Some quotations from the saints

"There are many souls who close their ears against Him because they prefer to speak and hurry through vocal prayers as if a task had been set them to say a certain amount everyday. Do not imitate them. You are doing more by occasionally repeating a single petition of the Our Father than by repeating the whole of it many times in a hurry and not thinking [or willing] what you are saying." - St. Teresa of Avila

"God always enriches the souls He visits. This is certain, for although the favor and consolation may pass away quickly, it is detected later on by the benefits it has left in the soul." - St. Teresa of Avila

"Let your desire be to see God; your fear, that you may lose Him; your sorrow, that you are not having fruition of Him; your joy that He can bring you to Himself. Thus you will live in great peace." - St. Teresa of Avila

"The soul that truly loves God loves all good, seeks all good, protects all good, praises all good, joins itself to good men, helps and defends them, and embraces all the virtues: it loves only what is true and worth loving. Do you think it possible that one who truly loves God cares, or can care, for vanities, or riches, or worldly things, or pleasures or honors? Neither can such a soul quarrel or feel envy, for it aims at nothing save pleasing its Beloved." - St. Teresa of Avila

"That you may have pleasure in everything, seek your own pleasure in nothing. That you may know everything, seek to know nothing. That you may possess all things, seek to possess nothing. That you may be everything, seek to be nothing.... Desire to be empty and poor for Christ's sake. This state must be embraced with a perfect heart and you must really want it. If your heart is truly engaged in these efforts you shall speedily attain to great joy and consolation. Be continually careful and earnest in imitating Christ in everything, making your life conform to His." - St. John of the Cross

"Seeking oneself in God is the opposite of love." - St. John of the Cross

"Be earnest in prayer, and hope in detachment and emptiness. Your good will not be long in coming." - St. John of the Cross

"That man attains to spiritual freedom, clearness of judgment, repose, tranquillity and peaceful confidence, together with true worship and obedience of the will when he represses all joy in passing things. Man has greater joy and comfort in creatures if he detaches himself from them." - St. John of the Cross

"Love unites the soul with God; and the more love the soul has the more powerfully it enters into God and is centered on Him." - St. John of the Cross

"If a soul is seeking God, its Beloved is seeking it still more." - St. John of the Cross

"Wait upon God with loving and pure attentiveness, working no violence on yourself lest you disturb the soul's peace and tranquillity. God will feed your soul with heavenly food since you put no obstacle in His way. The soul in this state must remember that if it is not conscious of making progress, it is making much more than when it was walking on foot, because God Himself is bearing it in His arms. Although outwardly it is doing nothing, it is in reality doing more than if it were working, since God is doing the work within it. And it is not remarkable that the soul does not see this, for our senses cannot perceive what God does in the soul.... if the soul stays in God's care it will certainly make progress." - St. John of the Cross

"The soul that wants God to give Himself to it wholly must surrender itself totally to Him, and keep nothing back for itself." - St. John of the Cross

The prayer rope

A prayer rope is a cord with 25, 33, 50, or 100 knots, tied into a loop, usually with a cross hanging from it. It looks a little similar to a rosary. Prayer ropes are often made of black wool (to signify that we are Jesus' penitent sheep). Although the Jesus Prayer is the prayer most frequently used with the prayer rope, other prayers may be used, like the "Our Father" (also known as "the Lord's Prayer," Matthew 6:9-13) or the "Glory Be" ("Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Sp irit now and ever and forever"). The knots are used to count prayers without having to think about numbers.

It is very easy to make your own prayer rope with nylon cord and evenly spaced triple knots (three loops per knot instead of one). Beads could also be used in place of knots. If you choose to make your own, this should be done in prayer. If you don't want to make your own, you can order a prayer rope from an Eastern Catholic bookstore. I recommend the Icon & Book Service in Washington, D.C.

Origin of the prayer rope

Saint Antony the Great (also known as St. Antony of the Desert, sometimes spelled Anthony; 251-356 A.D.) is often called "father of Christian monasticism." He was a Coptic Catholic of Egypt. One day while he was in church the Lord told him to sell everything he owned, give his money to the poor, and follow Him. In 269 A.D., Antony withdrew from society to move further and further into the desert as a hermit, in order to be alone with God and devote more time to prayer. Those who followed his example called him "Abba," father, from which we derive the English word "Abbot." The best biography of St. Antony, very influential in the conversion of St. Augustine, was written by St. Athanasius in the 4th century A.D. (available from TAN Books).

The prayer rope is sometimes attributed to St. Antony. This passage from The Sayings of the Desert Fathers explains why:
"When the holy Abba Antony lived in the desert he was attacked by many sinful thoughts. He said to God, 'Lord, I want to be saved but these thoughts do not leave me alone, what shall I do in my affliction? How can I be saved?' A short while later, when he got up to go out, Antony saw a man like himself sitting at his work, getting up from his work to pray, then sitting down and plaiting a rope, then getting up again to pray. It was an angel of the Lord sent to correct and reassure him. He heard the angel saying to him, 'Do this and you will be saved.' At these words, Antony was filled with joy and courage. He did this, and he was saved."

Christ is among us!
He is and will be!

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