Unsure of what penance prayer a priest had in mind?

[Nameless]

Greetings, I’m new here.

I fear this might be a silly question, but… I’ve just been to a Lenten Service of Reconciliation, which ended with five priests being available for confession. After my confession, the priest (who I’ll mention is from India, just in case there’s a cultural factor that I might be unaware of) said that for my penance, I should say a prayer that I think he referred to as “Jesus, Merciful Father”. Feeling slightly embarrassed to say that I was unsure of the prayer he was referring to, I thought I’d quickly be able to identify it via a quick internet search. But that has failed, so I wonder if he possibly might have meant the Our Father?

I can probably ask him on Sunday if necessary, but can anyone kindly help me out so that I can avoid delaying my penance?

 

[Fauken]

If you’re really worried, go tell another priest about it during your next confession, and he’ll take care of it from there.

 

[powerandglory]

I think it would be sufficient to say another prayer instead. Maybe the Divine Mercy Chaplet?

 

[JohnLilburne]

Perhaps it was “Glory be to the Father”:

“Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”

(From the Liturgy of the Hours).

In the book “Prayers Against the Powers of Darkness” (ISBN 9781601375674) there is the first half of this prayer:

“Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit.”

It also has a prayer, the first under the heading “Invocations to Our Lord Jesus Christ” which begins:

“JESUS, SON OF THE LIVING GOD,

have mercy on me.

Jesus, image of the Father,

have mercy on me.

Jesus, eternal Wisdom,

have mercy on me.”

“Jesus, image of the Father” is similar to “Jesus, merciful Father”.

But this is unlikely to be one you would be expected to know. One of the lines from this invocation is:

“Jesus, High Priest, have mercy on me.”

A Google search of this (in the quotes) gave me no results. Although a similar prayer is in the book “An Exorcist Explains How to Heal Possessed: And Help Souls Suffering Spiritual Crises” by Fr. Paolo Carlin.

[Excerpts from the English translation of Exorcisms and Related Supplications , © 2014, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]

 

[awesomecatholic]

The Lord’s prayer,the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Confiteor could work. If this really bothers you,go to confession with a different priest.

 

[Nameless]

Thanks for the replies. It’s good to know that I’m not overlooking something that’s clear to everyone else! John’s analysis is interesting, but I think the point regarding what I could be expected to know is valid.

But even if there’s no obvious solution, I’m not bothered by this and I certainly wouldn’t avoid confessing to the priest in question, as it was a positive experience. But I would ask for clarification, if necessary, on another occasion. I’m confident that if I do my best to say appropriate prayer(s), he would consider that fine and suitably responsive to what he said.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

There is an Act of Contrition that begins, “Merciful Father, I am guilty of sin…” You can find it on the web. Given the context, I’d guess he meant that.

There are also lots of other nice prayers on the web that begin “Merciful Father” or contain those words.

I would just select a couple of Merciful Father prayers and say them.