Prayer Diary
Page last updated: Thursday 13th November 2025 9:03 PM
Today's Prayer
Using mantra for prayer - Second Practice
Having discovered mantra and the Jesus Prayer, we’ll move on to a prayer made
popular by Fr John Main. This mantra is very short, just a single word. As before,
it’s simply repeated using a prayer rope etc, or just our breath.
The mantra is maranatha.
When praying it whisper the word like this; ma-ra-na-tha.
Say the prayer by emphasising each syllable, ma…ra…na...tha. Then take a gentle in-breath and say it again, ma…ra…na…tha. Focus on the sound, how
it feels on the lips, tongue, mouth.
Give it all of your attention. The prayer corrals the mind, rounding it up and focussing it. If it escapes (it will, by remembering something, anything!) gently
bring it back into line by pausing and starting afresh.
Maranatha can be found in the Bible at 1 Corinthians 16:22. It’s one of the few Aramaic words untranslated into Greek and means, “Our Lord has come / is coming”. Sadly, it seems to be used by St Paul as a curse, but don’t let that put you off!
Own the word for yourself, don’t dwell on particular meanings, but use the sound and texture of the word to focus your mind in the direction of silence.
Ma-ra-na-tha
Having discovered mantra and the Jesus Prayer, we’ll move on to a prayer made
popular by Fr John Main. This mantra is very short, just a single word. As before,
it’s simply repeated using a prayer rope etc, or just our breath.
The mantra is maranatha.
When praying it whisper the word like this; ma-ra-na-tha.
Say the prayer by emphasising each syllable, ma…ra…na...tha. Then take a gentle in-breath and say it again, ma…ra…na…tha. Focus on the sound, how
it feels on the lips, tongue, mouth.
Give it all of your attention. The prayer corrals the mind, rounding it up and focussing it. If it escapes (it will, by remembering something, anything!) gently
bring it back into line by pausing and starting afresh.
Maranatha can be found in the Bible at 1 Corinthians 16:22. It’s one of the few Aramaic words untranslated into Greek and means, “Our Lord has come / is coming”. Sadly, it seems to be used by St Paul as a curse, but don’t let that put you off!
Own the word for yourself, don’t dwell on particular meanings, but use the sound and texture of the word to focus your mind in the direction of silence.
Ma-ra-na-tha
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