Among all the prayers and hymns of Great Lent this may be called the prayer of Great Lent.
Tradition attributes it to one of the great teachers of the spiritual life, Saint Ephraim the Syrian. Here is the text of the prayer:
“Lord and Despot of my life, do not see me as a spirit of idleness, curiosity, philanthropy, and argology.
Spirit of sobriety, humility, patience and love grant me your servant.
Yes, Lord King, grant me that they may see my faults, and do not criticize my brother, for you are blessed forever and ever. Amen”.
This prayer is said twice at the end of each service of Great Lent from Monday to Friday. The first time saying the prayer we make one repentance for each request. Then we do twelve penances saying: “God, forgive me a sinner, and have mercy on me”. The entire prayer is repeated with a final penance at the end of the prayer.
Why does this short and simple prayer hold such an important place in the entire Lenten liturgy? Because it lists, in a unique way, all the negative and positive elements of repentance and constitutes, so to speak, a “rule of control” for our personal struggle during the period of Great Lent. This fight aims first of all to free us from some basic spiritual diseases that shape our lives and make us really powerless even to start turning to God.
