The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God [Paperback]

Frederica Mathewes-Green (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2009

  

In the earliest centuries of faith, Christians in the deserts of Palestine and Africa sought a short prayer that could be easily repeated, in order to acquire the habit of “prayer without ceasing.” The result was The Jesus Prayer:

 

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”

 

This jewel of Eastern Christianity aims at enabling a person to be in God’s presence, rather than to focus on feelings or thoughts about God.

 

The first section of The Jesus Prayer offers a concise overview of the history, theology, and spirituality of Orthodoxy, so that the Prayer can be understood in its native context. Following, is a conversational question-and-answer format that takes the reader through practical steps for adopting this profound practice in everyday life.

 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Fredrica Mathewes-Green is a wide-ranging author whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, the Los Angeles TImes, First Things, Books & Culture, Sojourners, and the Wall Street Journal. She is the author of eight books, including The Illumined Heart, The Open Door, and The Lost Gospel of Mary, and is the Khouria (spiritual mother) of Holy Cross Orthodox Church nea Baltimore. Visit her at www.fredrica.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Paraclete Press (October 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557256594
• ISBN-13: 978-1557256591
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #66 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Orthodoxy

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Jesus Prayer made accessible, October 2, 2009

By 

Lyle (East Greenwich, RI, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God (Paperback)

Frederica is a bridge author between E. Orthodoxy and other faith streams the way Henri Nouwen was for the RCC and evangelicalism. I sat under her workshops at Oxford CS Lewis Institute and have read all her books and dozens of others on the Jesus Prayer. Eastern Orthodox spirituality and theology and music has deeply impacted my own journey as a pastor. This book is direct, clear, and accessible for any Christian and even those seeking more understanding.

She has chosen to have half the book be in a Q and A format which works well because of the many nuances and viewpoints even among the Orthodox on the practice of the prayer and the related principles of spiritual discipline.

I believe this will be the modern standard to introduce millions of Christians to prayer that moves beyond shallow self-expressed prayers and formal written prayers to a place of constant presence with God so needed in our self-addicted world of miss-placed passions. I encourage you to read the book and more importantly, make the Jesus Prayer and similar scripture prayers the core of your prayer-practice.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Jesus Prayer, January 8, 2010

By 

J Martin Jellinek (Memphis, TN United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God (Paperback)

I have practiced the Jesus prayer for years, but with no real guidance. I used the prayer primarily while walking and it helped me remember the universality of sin in the world and our need, both as corporate humanity and as individuals, to admit to this fact and acknowledge it in ourselves and others. Being sinners is one of the overarching facts that tie us together in the human family.

This book by Mathewes-Green has really helped me put the prayer into much clearer focus and helped me better understand the full power of the prayer. Coming from an Eastern Orthodox perspective, the author also helps to crack open a vision of the power of Orthodox prayer and spirituality. I highly recommend this book for those interested in prayer and/or Eastern Orthodoxy.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God, December 6, 2009

By 

Charles Lewis (Toronto) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God (Paperback)

A very good introduction to this ancietn practice. The author does a superb job of explaining the depth of the prayer how such a simple prayer -- Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me -- can be so powerful. She also does a good job of explaining the theology of the prayer and how it ties into the Orthodox Church. But clearly, she wants to open this beautiful prayer to all Christians. I would say this book would be perfect for anyone looking for a way to deepen their prayer life.

C. Lewis