ABSTRACT
This chapter talks about the history of the Jesus Prayer, 'Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner', which likely dates back to the second half of the first millennium. With this prayer, which has roots in both the writings of the early desert Christians and the Greek Orthodox Church, one will practice praying continuously, reminiscent of several passages in scripture. Within the gospels, Jesus offered himself as the way for his followers to reconcile with God, teaching that his disciples were to petition God in his name. Within the gospel of John, these types of teachings illuminate the power of Jesus' name. Within the Orthodox Church, the Jesus Prayer is recited in order to maintain a sense of calm stillness. In this tranquil, quiet state, the mind is focused on the name of Jesus, with the words of the prayer eventually reciting themselves in the practitioner's heart.
