The Meaning of Kyrie Eleison
At the beginning of the Catholic mass, we recite a prayer called the Kyrie Eleison or the Kyrie. The words Kyrie Eleison are Greek words meaning “Lord, have mercy.”
We recite the three phrases of the prayer in English or in Greek:
Kyrie Eleison
Christe Eleison
Kyrie Eleison
OR:
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
The Origin of Kyrie Eleison
The phrase “Lord, have mercy” appears often in both the Psalms and in the New Testament. The Gospel of Matthew contains three instances of the phrase: the Canaanite woman asking Jesus to heal her daughter (Mt 15:22), a father asking Jesus to heal his son (Mt 17:15), and two blind men who wish to see (Mt 20:29).
The phrase also appears in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:9–14. This variation is the main source of the Jesus Prayer, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
The Meaning and Purpose of the Kyrie Eleison
Why do we pray the Kyrie at the start of the Mass?
The Kyrie is said at the end of the Penitential Rite in which we recognize our sinfulness and place ourselves in God’s mercy. We recite prayers together a Church of sinners asking for God’s forgiveness.
We are like each of the humble individuals in the gospels asking for God’s mercy and healing. We know we are broken and we turn to the Lord Jesus Christ who we know is merciful and ask him for forgiveness.
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