The Power of His Name #OTEM

This post is part of our Ordinary Time, Extraordinary Mercy series, in which CatholicMom.com contributors will share their own experiences of living the Year of Mercy. Beginning at Pentecost and continuing through the summer, we'll cover many aspects of the Works of Mercy in family life.

The Jesus Prayer is simple and yet, as I discovered, also powerful.

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

I first started praying the Jesus Prayer years ago. I had been depressed for quite a while and could not seem to shake it. My sister had suffered from clinical depression for most of her life and I was afraid that I might have the same problem.

I talked to my spiritual director about it and he suggested that I pray the Jesus Prayer. He told me to shorten it and just say, Jesus, have mercy. Or even just repeat His name over and over. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

He told me to pray it every day and throughout the day. While I was driving. While I was working. While I was walking. Whenever I could.

And so I did as he suggested. For what seemed like weeks on end, I prayed “Jesus, have mercy” every chance I got. I prayed it so often it became just a natural part of my day. The name of Jesus would just come to my mind all day long.

And amazing as it may sound, praying that prayer seemed to help me get through the days. It helped me take care of my family. It helped me to work. It helped me through the dark moments when I felt so alone.

And then one day I woke up and I felt like a different person. The cloud of depression had lifted. It was as if I had been released from some dark prison.

This happened years ago and the depression never returned. I still pray the Jesus prayer, as often as I think of it. And when life is difficult, I pray it continuously.

Our merciful God has helped me see - there is power in the Name.

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