--- title: "The Power of His Name #OTEM" description: Colleen Spiro shares her experience of God's mercy through the healing power of the Jesus Prayer. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/06/22/power-name-otem#) # The Power of His Name #OTEM Jun 22, 2016 7:00:54 AM  |  by [Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/colleen-spiro) *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.* [![Ordinary Time Extraordinary Mercy](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mercy-OTEM-FB-940x516.png?width=702&height=385&name=Mercy-OTEM-FB-940x516.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mercy-OTEM-FB-23.png) 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. [Tweet "Our merciful God has helped me see - there is power in the Name. #OTEM"] [![Ordinary Time Extraordinary Mercy](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mercy-OTEM-Pin-489x516.png?width=489&height=516&name=Mercy-OTEM-Pin-489x516.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Mercy-OTEM-Pin-24.png) **[Read the other articles in our "Ordinary Time, Extraordinary Mercy" series.](http://catholicmom.com/tag/otem)** Copyright 2016 Colleen Spiro ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F06%2F22%2Fpower-name-otem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F06%2F22%2Fpower-name-otem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F06%2F22%2Fpower-name-otem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=The%20Power%20of%20His%20Name%20%23OTEM) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F06%2F22%2Fpower-name-otem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F06%2F22%2Fpower-name-otem%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/COLLEEN%20SPIRO.jpeg) ### [Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/colleen-spiro) Colleen Spiro is a Catholic mother, grandmother and a deacon’s wife. A certified spiritual director, Colleen loves to share her faith and encourage others through her retreats and writings. You can read her reflections at her website, [Catholic Prayer Life](http://www.catholic-prayerlife.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Where We Are Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/10/28/where-we-are) [ Hearing God’s Whisper Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2011/05/23/hearing-gods-whisper) [ Looking Back with Love Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/looking-back-with-love) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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