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The Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephraim

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As we look forward to the season of repentance and renewal that is Lent, may we live in full the words Saint Ephraim beautifully expressed in his Lenten prayer. O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sin and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed from all ages to all ages. Amen. Pour into our hearts O Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, at whose prompting the Deacon Saint Ephrem exulted in singing of your mysteries and from whom he received the strength and fortitude to serve you and you alone. We ask this in trustful humility through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Ephraim the Syrian’s Hymn on the Nativity

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Saint Ephraim the Syrian, the 4th century theologian and Doctor of the Church wrote nineteen metrical poems on the Incarnation of Our Lord. These hymns on the Nativity of Christ in the flesh contain profound insights into the love of God. Here, St. Ephraim extols how God became man for our good and our salvation: Blessed be the Child Who today delights Bethlehem. Blessed be the Newborn Who today made humanity young again. Blessed be the Fruit Who bowed Himself down for our hunger. Blessed be the Gracious One Who enriched all our poverty and filled our need. Blessed be He Whose mercy inclined Him to heal our sickness. Blessed be the Holy Child of Bethlehem! On this day when the Rich One was made poor for our sake, let the rich man also make the poor man a sharer at his table. On this day a gift came out to us without our asking for it; let us then give alms to those who cry out and beg from us. This is the day when the high gate opened to u

Saint Ephrem, "the Harp of the Holy Spirit"

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Although Saint Ephrem (or Ephraim) lived in the 4th century, there is much about him and his life that strikes a contemporary note. Born in Nisibis, Mesopotamia (present day Syria) around the year 306, he is the only Syrian recognized as a Doctor of the Church. His background, which was Asian/ African rather than Greek, afforded him a different worldview than many of his contemporaries, one of whom was St. Athanasius. His theology and insights into the faith were just as profound, but his unique outlook was often expressed in poetry, rather than the “systematic” form that was prevalent in the writings of other theologians. St. Ephrem, like many who have lived in that part of the world, saw troubled times. In his late fifties, he became a refugee when his native city was conquered and subsequently ceded to the Persians in 363. Under threat of persecution Christians, including Ephrem, fled the area en masse . By the year 364, St. Ephrem resided in Edessa, where he lived his final ye

The Great Lenten Prayer of Saint Ephraim

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As we look forward to the season of repentance and renewal that is Lent, may we live in full the words Saint Ephraim beautifully expressed in his Lenten prayer. O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, faintheartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own sin and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed from all ages to all ages. Amen. Pour into our hearts O Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, at whose prompting the Deacon Saint Ephrem exulted in singing of your mysteries and from whom he received the strength and fortitude to serve you and you alone. We ask this in trustful humility through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Saint Ephrem on Christ's Incarnation and Kingship

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Saint Ephrem the Syrian, called "the Harp of the Holy Spirit," was a prolific hymnographer and theologian of the 4th century. He was born into a Christian family about 306 AD in Nusaybin, Turkey. As deacon at Edessa, he opposed the heresies of his day. Ephrem composed hundreds of hymns and poems on the mysteries of God, the Blessed Virgin and the saints. Below is a hymn and a prayer by blessed St. Ephrem on our Lord's glorious Incarnation and Kingship. Hymn to Christ Our King From God Christ's deity came forth,    His manhood from humanity; his priesthood from Melchizedek,    his royalty from David's tree: praised be his Oneness. He joined with guests at wedding feast,    Yet in the wilderness did fast; he taught within the temple's gates;    his people saw him die at last: praised be his teaching. The dissolute he did not scorn,    Nor turn from those who were in sin; he for the righteous did rejoice    but bade the fal

Saint Ephrem of Syria on Prayer

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Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. — St. Ephrem Pour into our hearts O Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, at whose prompting the Deacon St. Ephrem, "the Harp of the Holy Spirit", exulted in singing of your mysteries and from whom he received the strength to serve you alone.

Saint Ephrem's Epistle to a Disciple

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Pope Benedict XVI noted that Saint Ephrem of Syria, poet, monastic, and theologian, through his hymns and writings, praised God "in an unparalleled way" and "with rare skill." On this his feast day, here is St. Ephrem's letter to a disciple on living the monastic life. I was born in the way of truth: though my childhood was unaware of the greatness of the benefit, I knew it when trial came.  — St. Ephrem ANOTHER EPISTLE WHICH APA EPHRAIM WROTE TO A BELOVED DISCIPLE My beloved in the Lord, before every other thing set humility in thy mouth when thou art ready to make answer, for, forgive me, thou knowest that by humility all the power of the Enemy is brought to naught. And thou knowest the goodness of thy Master, Whom they blasphemed, and how He became humble, and obedient, even unto death. And do thou thyself, my son, set thy humility in thy mouth, and in thy heart, and in thy neck, for there is a commandment which inculcateth humility. Consider Da

June 9th: Optional Memorial of Saint Ephrem

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Saint Ephrem the Syrian, called "the Harp of the Holy Spirit," was a prolific hymnographer and theologian of the 4th century. He was born into a Christian family about 306 AD in Nusaybin, Turkey. As deacon at Edessa, he opposed the heresies of his day. To that end, Ephrem composed hundreds of hymns and poems on the mysteries of God, the Incarnation, the Blessed Virgin and the saints. His spiritual insights and counsel were sought after. Ephrem was especially devoted to Our Lady. As a Scripture scholar, he gave the Church a wealth of commentaries and sermons which were translated into various Eastern languages as well as Greek and Latin. His works are esteemed by Christians throughout the world, and both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches venerate him as a saint. Ephrem died in 373. Pope Benedict XV named him a Doctor of the Church in 1920. He is the patron saint of spiritual directors. Read Benedict XV's Encyclical on St. Ephrem, Principi Apostolorum Petro . The L