A little confused.

[Tsarina]

Yesterday i started to read the book called, 'The Way of a Pilgrim'. While reading it, i was a bit confused to what it was saying by two things.

First, the unknown pilgrim in the book reciets the Jesus Prayer as, "Lord Jesus, have mercy upon me". As far as i know, the prayer goes like this, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Im wondering if you can say it both ways, or is one incorect? :confused:

Furthermore, the pilgrim also mentions a few times in the book, "I blessed myself" or "i bless myself". When he wakes up or goes about to do somthing, he mentions this before he does a particular thing. Im wondering if it's possible to bless yourself? can one do that? and if so, how is it done?

Godbless.

[Xpycoctomos]

I don't know about the blessing oneself other than the fact that when we cross ourselves we are, in essence, blessing ourselves (same as when people with Children cross their children before they leave the house). So imagine it's referring to that.

The Jesus is said in varying lengths. Kallistos Ware says in some circles it is shortened even to just "Jesus" but comments that for many this name is so powerful and Holy and others prefer to buffer it (per se) with other words. I'll see if I can find that excerpt from Bishop Ware's Orthodox Church.

John

[gzt]

There are variations that are shorter, that's one of them. It's not like a magic incantation. It probably refers to crossing oneself.

[Xpycoctomos]

hmmm... well I now I had read it somewhere, but this (http://www.tlig.org/rosaryorth.html)is the only part I find in Bishop Kallistos' book that talks extesively about the Jesus Prayer, but it doesn't seem to mention what I heard about it being shortened to varying forms... perhaps this is another book... or series of lectures on tape??? Anyhow, the one the Pilgrim says, while shorter, is just as good as the one we usually here.

John

[elizabethevangeline]

I visited the Orthodox church in Ediburgh last Tuesday. After the Vespers Service, the priest led the congregation in the Jesus Prayer...just using "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us". (He prayed, we were silent.)

It was amazingly calming. My hostess who accompanied me, had never been to an Orthodox service, was very touched by it. Do other churches do this? My parish doesn't as far as I know.)

[Orthodox Andrew]

hmmm... well I now I had read it somewhere, but this (http://www.tlig.org/rosaryorth.html)is the only part I find in Bishop Kallistos' book that talks extesively about the Jesus Prayer, but it doesn't seem to mention what I heard about it being shortened to varying forms... perhaps this is another book... or series of lectures on tape??? Anyhow, the one the Pilgrim says, while shorter, is just as good as the one we usually here.

John

It was in one of Bp. Kallistos' books. But I can not remember which one.

[Xpycoctomos]

It was in one of Bp. Kallistos' books. But I can not remember which one.

At least I'm not alone. :)

[Monica, child of God]

Crossing yourself is blessing yourself. Just like if you make the sign of the cross over food or water or any object you are blessing it, or more accurately, asking God to bless it.

[Tsarina]

Thank you guys, i have a better understand of "blessing youself", i was totally confused before.:crosseo:

As for the Jesus prayer, im still a little confused on that one. I will ask my preist about it, since i have a meeting with him tonight anyway.

Thank you Xpycoctomos, for your link. :D

Godbless.

[Maximus]

The Jesus Prayer has its roots in the prayer of the Publican in Luke 18:13, "God be merciful to me, a sinner."

It can be as simple as calling on the Name of the Lord or saying "Lord have mercy."

[Lotar]

It was in one of Bp. Kallistos' books. But I can not remember which one.

The Orthodox Church

I know because that's the only one I've read. :D

[Lotar]

From what I've read, "a sinner" was the later addition.

[Tsarina]

From what I've read, "a sinner" was the later addition.

How late? This tale of the unknown pilgrim is supposedly takes place in the 19th century.

Godbless.

[Maximus]

From what I've read, "a sinner" was the later addition.

My impression is the opposite, since the prayer is modelled on that of the publican in Luke 18, which concludes with "a sinner."