One of the most widely recited prayers of Eastern/Byzantine Catholics and Orthodox Christians is the Jesus Prayer.
It typically consists of the following invocation: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
This popular prayer is quoted almost directly from a parable Jesus tells his disciples, comparing the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector.
The Jesus Prayer derived from this Bible verse is an ancient prayer that was popular among the Desert Fathers and is found in a collection of Eastern Christian spiritual writings called the Philokalia. This collection of writings dates back to the 4th century, and includes authors such as St. Anthony the Great, St. John Damascus, and St. Mark the Ascetic.
The tax collector's prayer is seen by many as a "perfect" prayer, recognizing the reality of our sin while also asking God for his forgiveness and mercy.
