St. Ephrem Prayer
The Prayer of St. Ephrem: A Prayer for Great Lent The Prayer of St. Ephrem is the typical prayer of Great Lent. It is short enough to memorize and is prayed during weekday Lenten services. When we cannot attend church, we may also pray it quietly at home throughout the day. The prayer names the habits that draw us away from God and asks for the virtues that help us grow in Christian life.
Prayer of St. Ephrem
O Lord and Master of my life, drive from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust for power and idle chatter.
Prostration
Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love.
Prostration
Yes, O Lord and King! Let me see my own sins and not judge my brothers and sisters; for you are blessed for ever and ever. Amen.
Prostration
4X with a simple bow:
+God be merciful to me a sinner
+God cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me
+I have sinned without number, forgive me, O Lord!
O Lord and Master of my life, drive from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement, lust for power and idle chatter. Instead, grant to me, your servant, the spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love. Yes, O Lord and King! Let me see my own sins and not judge my brothers and sisters; for you are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
Prostration
Prayer of St. Ephrem (Simplified Form)
O Lord and Master of my life,Take away from me the will to be lazy and to be sad, the desire to get ahead of other people, to boast and to brag.
Prostration
Give me, instead, a pure and humble spirit, the will to be patient with other people and to love them.
Prostration
Yes, O Lord and King! Let me realize my own mistakes and keep me from judging the things that other people do, for you are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.
Prostration
Then with a simple bow. 4 times:
+God be merciful to me a sinner
+God cleanse me of my sins and have mercy on me
+I have sinned without number, forgive me, O Lord!
Pray the entire prayer of St. Ephrem without the bows in between. Finish with one final profound bow.
The Meaning of the Prayer
“O Lord and Master of my life”
With these words, we recognize that God is the source and master of our life. We acknowledge that our first allegiance is to Him and that we are called to live according to His will.
“Drive from me the spirit of indifference and discouragement”
Indifference can appear as spiritual laziness—the feeling that making an effort is not worthwhile. Discouragement tells us that we cannot succeed, so there is no reason to try. Lent is a spiritual exercise that helps us begin again with God’s grace.
“Lust for power”
This is the desire to control others, make ourselves the centre of everything, or manipulate people and situations for our own benefit. We ask God to free us from this desire and allow Him to be truly the Lord of our life.
“Idle chatter”
Our words can bring healing, but they can also harm families, parishes, communities, and individuals. This part of the prayer invites us to be attentive to what we say, hear, and share, choosing words that are truthful, loving, and respectful.
“Grant me the spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love”
We ask God for four virtues:
- Integrity—to live as a whole and faithful person.
- Humility—to see ourselves and our lives truthfully, without pride or false ideas about ourselves.
- Patience—to wait for God, bear with others, and persevere when growth is slow.
- Love—to love God and willingly seek the good of our neighbour.
“Let me see my own sins and not judge my brothers and sisters”The prayer ends by turning our attention inward. We ask for the honesty to recognize our own sins instead of focusing on the faults of others. Through repentance, God helps us grow in humility and love.