Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

Though I rated this book with 4 stars, I would give it 3.5. Let me explain why.

I would attribute 4 stars to it because the book is a good introduction to Christianity from a Catholic and Orthodox perspective. For people of a different strain of Christianity or of other creeds curious about "ancient Christianity", this book serves as a reasonable introduction of the orthodox Faith, held by both Catholics and Orthodox. It also explains the Jesus Prayer within this context, particularly within the Eastern traditions. It does not go into complex theories; it is also written in a very down-to-earth language. As someone has already mentioned in their review, it is a series of Q&A (where the author offers her own personal experience as well), which I think follow a logical sequence of inquiry to those that practice (or intend on practicing) the Jesus Prayer.

I would give this book a 3 star rating because of my expectations. I was looking to find a book, though introductory to the Jesus Prayer, with a bit more "meat", and not something so basic. Perhaps I had set my expectations to high given that I had recently read "The Art of Prayer: an Orthodox Anthology". To be fair though, the author does cite from that book on numerous occasions.

So, in light of these two considerations, I hope I have given a somewhat reasonable account of why in reality I would give this book 3.5.

My wife and I are reading this aloud as part of a Lenten discipline. There's a multitude of books on this subject but this one is unique, partly because of Khouria Frederica's approachable style. It is an excellent introduction to this simple prayer of the heart which can overcome all our mental complexes and cultural contamination and allow us to stand before the Lord.

The Jesus Prayer has been a method for union with Jesus for centuries. However, this book explains why one would pray the prayer. It mentions the need to use this prayer with the help and guidance of a spiritual director. This prayer is more popular in the Eastern Church than in the West but is growing in popularity in the Western churches. Reading this book will make your use of the prayer much more unitive and enriching. A Chotki is the rosary type help to keep one focused. Chotki's are available from Orthodox book stores or at several places on line. There is a very wide variety of types, lengths and materials used to make a Chotki.

A wonderful book. The book, through the Jesus Prayer, serves as a window on the Eastern Orthodox tradition -- but is much more than that. The Introduction is a well written overview. The second half, in question and answer format, provides detailed and practical advice/insights on the Jesus Prayer. More importantly, this discussion is broad enough to serve as a reflection on prayer, faith, and our relationship with God. We are challenged. The Jesus Prayer is a bridge...

Communion and union with God are issues at the core of our existence. Our search eventually leads us to unceasing prayer and prayer of the heart. The questions arising in our minds and hearts on the path to unceasing prayer are illumined within this book. The wisdom is taken from those experienced on the path of unceasing prayer along with practical day to day use of the Jesus prayer for intercession, praise, and most important worship. For the individual who is curious, and for the individual that is serious in learning to pray unceasingly, this book is invaluable and a unique treasure. The path of the heart and the role of the Jesus prayer in bringing us to union with God are explained in a simple yet profound manner. This book will unravel a spiritual path and depth unknown to many, but will guide them to the interior life in Christ.

Paraclete Press sent me a copy of The Jesus Prayer by Frederica Mathewes-Green. This is now the third book that I've read on the Jesus Prayer. The Jesus Prayer is "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner." Some use shorter or longer versions of the prayer. The prayer is said repeatedly. I have found this helpful in focusing my mind on Christ, reminding myself that I am a sinner in need of Christ's mercy, and keeping my mind from sinful thoughts. I've reviewed The Jesus Prayer by Per-Olof Sjogren and The Way of a Pilgrim. All three books are useful for different reasons. All three books have strengths and all three have weaknesses. All three suffer to some degree from pietism. All three take a different approach to the use of breathing techniques and pacing the prayer with your heartbeat. The Way of a Pilgrim strongly promotes breathing techniques and pacing the prayer to your heartbeat. Frederica Mathewes-Green seems to discourage the use of these techniques. Per-Olof Sjogren is somewhere in the middle. These are probably all the result of individual experiences with the prayer. At times I have found the techniques helpful and at other times I have found them distracting. Frederica Mathewes-Green offers a very helpful defense of using this prayer repeatedly against those who claim that this is nothing more than pagan Eastern mysticism. Frederica Mathewes-Green does promote a syergistic view of salvation but she is Eastern Orthodox after all. The book isn't perfect but it might be the best introduction to this prayer and it's an easy read.

If you are interested in the practice of unceasing prayer, prayer of the heart, the Jesus Prayer, read this book.