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

John Gill’s comprehensive study of the Jesus Prayer considers an ancient mystical prayer practice from the Christian East. He discusses the historical development of the prayer and its basis in scripture, patristic spirituality, theology, and psychology. He also compares the Jesus Prayer with prayer practices in the Christian West, demonstrating various similarities and differences.

Having developed within the heart of the Christian tradition, the Jesus Prayer is a personal prayer expressing fundamental Christian faith; it is therefore a prayer which can hold universal appeal to Christians of all denominations.

The book also includes guidance for those who want to learn to use the Jesus Prayer as part of their spiritual practice and suggestions for further reading.

John Gill is a semi-retired Australian psychiatrist and an ordained Deacon in the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, where he serves at the parish of St Peter and Paul at Hampton Park, Melbourne. He has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Divinity in Melbourne and lives in Victoria.

Modestly sub-titled ‘Perspectives on the Jesus Prayer’ this dense little book is in fact a miniature history of Christian spirituality. … This book would be a mine of information for anyone interested in exploring a new form of prayer and there is an extensive bibliography of more academic studies in the Orthodox prayer tradition.

Kirsty Anderson, Transforming Ministry