Categories: uncategorized
Date: 26 August 2005 09:59:02
mercy noun -cies
1. compassionate treatment of or attitude towards an offender, adversary, etc., who is in one's power or care; clemency; pity
2. the power to show mercy to throw oneself on someone's mercy;
3. a relieving or welcome occurrence or state of affairs his death was a mercy after weeks of pain;
4. at the mercy of in the power of
History: C12: from Old French, from Latin merces wages, recompense, price, from merx goods
My impression has always been similar to that defined by the Collins Word Exchange above: compassion and compassionate treatment. And as a prayer to save us from God's wrath due to our sins. But, after some reading and listening, I'm coming to a far deeper understanding of the word "mercy" and its meaning in Christian prayer. It means so much more than I thought.
Unfortunately a rather wonderful BBC Radio 4 documentary on Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy) is no longer available (though Radio 4's Religion site is well worth a look). It detailed the history and meaning of Kyrie Eleison through not only talking to experts, but to everyday people as well and what it meant to them (which was wonderful to listen to). And they traced the musical development of the various settings of Kyrie Eleison in the various churches which was beautiful.
This page on the Jesus Prayer tells similar to what I heard on the Radio 4 programme in its paragraphs on "mercy". What follows is my summary and my understanding.
The Greek word for "mercy" is eleison, which comes from the root elaion meaning olive tree and the oil from it. And what is (or was) olive oil used for (apart from cooking!): as a soothing agent for bruises and wounds. It was massaged in, soothing and comforting and making the injured part whole. The Hebrew word which is translated "mercy" is hesed, which means "steadfast love". When we pray, Lord have mercy, we are praying for the Lord to soothe us, heal us, comfort us, take away our pain and show to us His steadfast love. It is a constant remembrance of the healing possible only through God and His compassion upon us.
Chanting "Lord have mercy" in response to the priest's and deacon's petitions at Vespers, Matins and Divine Liturgy will never feel the same again.