Lenten Meditation -- Fourth Tuesday of Great Lent

 

Source: athoniteusa.com

Our new parishioners may want to integrate this lenten prayer par excellence into their own personal prayer at home. This great prayer from St. Ephraim is used on Monday - Friday during the Lenten season; and then Monday-Wednesday of Holy Week. If Great Lent is about overcoming our passions and acquiring the virtues, this short prayer reveals that very clearly.

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.

(Prostration)

But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to thy servant.

(Prostration)

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.

(Prostration)

O God, cleanse me a sinner! (12x)

Then the entire prayer one more time (with prostration).

—St. Ephrem the Syrian, Lenten Prayer