JESUS PRAYER: Mark R. writes:

I had spent time in a Byzantine Catholic parish and attended a Byz. Cath. seminary for one year. Now I mainly attend Latin rite services. I do not think there would be much of a differing point of view re. the Jesus prayer between East and West. Since it is mainly a product of the East it is pretty much interpreted and approached in the context of Eastern sprituality. (That said, it must be emphasized that in the East…especially among the schismatic Orthodox there really is no differentiation between spirituality, theology, liturgy and hierarchy. All is part of a single whole much more so than in the West, though I get the impression that the mission of Vatican II was, in one sense, to restore this kind of “integrity” to the Western Church.)

It seems that in the Rosary the actual words occupy a second tier to the Mystery in question. This, of course, cannot be the case in the Jesus Prayer. There is no subject for meditation but the actual words of the prayer…as though Mystery and words are one in the same. They are short and simple words, but sum up man’s position before his God and what God is to man. They are Trinitarian words too, as they illustrate the Godhead of the Father, Jesus’ sonship, and the Holy Spirit is implied, as St. Paul teaches that no one can acknowledge the Lordship of Christ unless by the Holy Spirit.

I am sure you are aware that different words or groups of words in the Jesus prayer can be emphasized to allow for a variety of nuances…sort of like in the old acting exercises. Next to this prayer, the Rosary seems very formal. Only on rare occasions would the Jesus prayer be said publicly and in unison (I think it is included in various Lenten vespers). One will not find an Orthodox or Eastern Christian praying his prayer rope before or during liturgy as one would the Rosary before or during Mass. Meditative prayer in the East is prayed in private in ones room or while walking or engaged in some kind of repetitive work. It is recommended to be prayed with each brush-stroke when “writing” an icon. When I was younger and when the prayer was new to me, I enjoyed getting some kind of “feeling” or “result” from praying this prayer. Now that I am older and a bit wiser I know this is not the purpose of prayer. However, due to the repetitions, one cannot but help to feel or sense compunction, reverence or the awareness of how Christ and the pray-er fit in the proper order of things. This may be the result of the wording of the prayer, or the fact that merely saying the prayer blocks out and keeps ones mind off bad thoughts and distractions through occupying the mind with something more elevating. That said, to me it is the best prayer to pray when one had nothing left to say to God.

Sincerely yours,

Mark R.

P.S. If you have not read Charles Peguy, you should! I am reading now his writings anthologized as “Basic Verities” translated by Julian Green!