The Jesus Prayer

I have found myself using a prayer a lot these days that I never thought I would ever use. I just didn’t like its theology.

However, this year I have become much more involved in social justice activities and I am frequently filled with what I like to think of as righteous anger. Whereas anger can be a good thing in terms of drawing my attention to an injustice, it’s not a good place from which to act against injustice.

So I use this prayer, not necessarily because I agree with its theology, but because it is good for me to pray it: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I pray it with the 52 beads of my Earth Rosary. After repeating the Jesus Prayer 52 times, I have usually sunk back into that ocean of Light and Love from which I can act.