Breath Prayers for Holy Week
Including a printable download
Hi friends,
These are unusual days, many of us are carrying a lot, and now it is Holy Week. Rather than offer forth a hot take on atonement theory or whatever is keeping the theo-bros busy this week, I personally needed a re-centring on the beautiful and glorious story of Jesus’ final week through scripture, prayer, and a few deep breaths.
I’ve written a week’s worth of brand new breath prayers for each day of Holy Week for us all, as we journey towards the cross and the resurrection along with the rest of the Church worldwide. I also included a scripture reading guide for each day of the week, too. (I know I’m a day late, sorry!)
And as a special thank you to subscribers,1 I’ve also created a printable download of these prayers so that you can have them handy for the week. (Lower your expectations, I’m pretty basic in that craft but you know, happy printing and please excuse the inevitable typos or weird spacing.)
How to Practice Breath Prayers
For our newer subscribers, I write these sorts of breath prayers almost daily out of my own need, but a few times a year I like to share a batch of them with you to borrow for yourself.
Breath Prayer is an ancient form of prayer and it is easily adaptable. Simply choose one or two lines to meditate on and inhale and then exhale through them. It really is that simple.
You can pray a breath prayer literally anywhere without any special rituals or whatever but I’ve found that I like to find a quiet corner for a few minutes and I usually start by lighting a candle.
Then just quietly become aware of your body. Sit in a way that is comfortable for you, a position that will allow you to take a deep breath in and out. Close your eyes.
Imagine a room or a place where you feel safe, your own sanctuary: it can be a real place or one that exists in your imagination.
Breathe slowly and deeply while holding that place in your mind for a few moments, until you have all the details of it gathered around your soul.
You’ll enter into your time of prayer or meditation from within that sanctuary.
One historic form of breath prayer is known as The Jesus Prayer.
So, with that as an example, here’s how it works:
Inhale. Fill your whole self with breath. Feel the air in your lungs. And then pray aloud or to yourself:
“Jesus Christ, son of God,”
Exhale slowly and fully.
“Have mercy on me.”
And then simply repeat this practice. Start with ten good breaths in and out, with the words being spoken aloud or quietly held in your mind, it’s up to you.
Transition gently from prayer to rising, carrying those words with you through the rest of your day or evening.
Each couplet of inhale/exhale stands is its own stand-alone prayer. There is one for the morning and one for the evening. Don’t see this as a litany of words to just gallop through as a recitation. Take your time, even adapt it you like.
The reading plan is a pretty typical one, mirroring a lot of churches or communities or prayer books you may find, but I find it helpful to have everything in one spot for the week so I thought it might good for you to have that handy as well.2 The breath prayers I wrote for this week are all rooted in those daily stories from scripture so if anything feels a bit off to you, check the text and you’ll usually find the inspiration for that prayer there.
As always, take what works, chuck the rest, and let yourself be grounded in the unconditional love of God this week, right where you are.