The Rev. Dr. Olivia Hilton

So here we are in Holy Week. The Hosannas have turned to shouts of “Crucify him!” Unlike our first century brethren, we know the end of the story: the Last Supper, the Cross, the Empty Tomb. Or do we?

As we move slowly, inexorably towards Easter Day, through the shadows of Tenebrae and the agony that is Golgotha, I commend a simple, ancient prayer as your companion on the journey. It is known as the Jesus’ Prayer, and has its origins in Orthodox, Eastern Rite Christianity. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Perhaps saying this prayer repeatedly—while washing the dishes, walking the dog, folding the laundry, or attending Holy Week services—may reveal new insights into your own profound relationship with the Divine. There is no right or wrong way to pray the Jesus’ Prayer. There is only your way, as you walk with our Lord this week and deepen your relationship with God. It works for children, for those in their ‘troisième âge’ and for everyone in between.

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