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

Christ Surrounded by Musician Angels, Hans Memling, c. 1480s

The Jesus Prayer consists of only 12 words: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.

In Latin: Domine Iesu Christe, Fili Dei, miserere mei, peccatoris. 

The Jesus Prayer is the prayer of the publican in the Gospel of Saint Luke, 18.10-14:

[10]   Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

          Duo homines ascenderunt in templum ut orarent : unus pharisaeus et alter publicanus.

[11]    The Pharisee standing, prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of            men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican.

          Pharisaeus stans, haec apud se orabat : Deus, gratias ago tibi, quia non sum sicut ceteri hominum:                                   raptores, injusti, adulteri, velut etiam hic publicanus:

[12]   I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess.

           jejuno bis in sabbato, decimas do omnium quae possideo.

[13]   And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck             his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner.

          Et publicanus a longe stans, nolebat nec oculos ad caelum levare : sed percutiebat pectus suum, dicens:                        Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.

[14]   I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one                    that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

          Dico vobis, descendit hic justificatus in domum suam ab illo : quia omnis qui se exaltat, humiliabitur, et                            qui se humiliat, exaltabitur.

Christ Rising from the Tomb, Gaudenzio Ferrari, c. 1540

About The Jesus Prayer

The Jesus Prayer is an important prayer in Orthodox spirituality. The most normal form of unceasing prayer in the Orthodox tradition is The Jesus Prayer. It is the form of invocation used by those practicing mental prayer, also called the “prayer of the heart.” Although there are slightly different forms, the words of the prayer most usually said are “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.” The choice of this particular verse has theological and spiritual meaning.

The Most Holy Name of Jesus

The Jesus Prayer's power comes from the use of our Lord's Name, Jesus Christ, Son of God. It is a confession of our faith. It venerates the Holy Name of Jesus.

The Jesus Prayer is centred on the holy name of Jesus, the name given to the Lord by God Himself. It is addressed to Jesus as Lord and Christ and Son of God. That Jesus is the Christ, and that the Christ is Lord, is the essence of the Christian faith and the foundation of the Christian church. To believe and proclaim this is granted by the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1.31-33: Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Matthew 1.20-21: But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name JESUS. For he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 16.15-17: Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.

Acts 4.10-12: Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.

Philippians 2.9-11: For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names: That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. 

1 Corinthians 12.3: Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man, speaking by the Spirit of God, saith Anathema to Jesus. And no man can say the Lord Jesus, but by the Holy Ghost.

Acknowledging God as Jesus Christ's Father and our Father

In calling Jesus the Son of God is to acknowledge God as His Father. In doing this, at the same time, we have God as our own Father, and this too is granted by the indwelling Spirit. To pray “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” is already to be a child of God, and already to be certain that the Holy Spirit is in us. In this way, The Jesus Prayer brings the Spirit of God into the heart of man.

Galatians 4.4-7: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father. Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

Romans 8.14-18: For whosoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again in fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry: Abba (Father). For the Spirit himself giveth testimony to our spirit, that we are the sons of God. And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us.

Appealing for Mercy

The Jesus Prayer cries for divine mercy. This involves sorrow for sin but also speaks of divine forgiveness. It affirms that God's loving kindness and compassion are greater than our brokenness and guilt. The Jesus Prayer is a prayer full of light and hope. Divine mercy is what man needs most of all.

Luke 18.13-14: And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner. I say to you, this man went down into his house justified rather than the other: because every one that exalteth himself, shall be humbled: and he that humbleth himself, shall be exalted.

Ephesians 2.4-6: But God, (who is rich in mercy,) for his exceeding charity wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together in Christ, (by whose grace you are saved,) And hath raised us up together, and hath made us sit together in the heavenly places, through Christ Jesus.

Romans 3.23-26: For all have sinned, and do need the glory of God. Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption, that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God hath proposed to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to the shewing of his justice, for the remission of former sins, Through the forbearance of God, for the shewing of his justice in this time; that he himself may be just, and the justifier of him, who is of the faith of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 50.3-4: Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity. Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

A PDF copy of the Douay-Rheims New Testament may be downloaded from this website here.

Christ Pantocrator, St. Catherine's Monastery Sinai, 6th Century

Immaculate Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Immaculata Regina Pacis, ora pro nobis.