Merciful Hour

barneysplash

Hello all,

Can anyone explain where the phrase "Merciful Hour" comes from.

I think it is religious in origin.

Thanks

cazzy

I would have said Gay Byrne - but now that you say it must have been religious I would take a guess at the last hour Jesus was on the cross ?
Total guess, probably wrong.

BrianCalgary

I've never heard of it.

BostonB

Hear it a lot myself. No idea.

barneysplash

It's a saying you hear older folk saying more than young people.

Run_to_da_hills

Its an old Dublin expression for expressing surprise, ie, "Merciful Hour you frightened the life out of me, i didnt know who was there!"

Nevyn

My grandmother said it referred to the hour jesus took dying on the cross.
That in the one hour he forgave through his actions forgave the world of it's sins and
that spending that hour each year in prayer was something that good catholic's did not only for themselves but others as they never know when the hour of their death would come upon them and they would needs god's mercy.

The expression also remind a person to show mercy and forgiveness to others.

The expression started out as a prayer for mercy and forgivenes and a reminder to visit that on to others and clearly the meaning behind it was never passed on so it became just an expression.

highlight100

It is translated a lot as 'mercy flower'