"Confession of Faith" Not an Obligation... The Final Period that Completes Prayer
We often end our prayers with "Amen." If we don't say "Amen" at the end of a prayer, it feels as if the prayer isn't finished. Why is "Amen" so often used?
"Amen" has many uses. Let's first examine the "Amen" we often say at the end of prayers. The Hebrew word "Amen" comes from the same root as the word "believe," and carries the meaning of "steadfastness, reliability, and sincerity." It's used to express the certainty and validity of something, often meaning "so be it".
Amen appears frequently in the Bible. In the Old Testament, it primarily confirms the tasks assigned to humanity according to God's will, expresses personal conviction about God's judgment, praises God, and appears at the end of the Psalms.
The New Testament also frequently uses "Amen" at the end of prayers and praises. Epistles often reveal that prayers ended with "Amen." The Apostle Paul also criticized the misuse of spiritual language, saying, "How can a novice respond to your prayer of thanksgiving by saying, 'Amen,' if he doesn't understand what you're saying?" (1 Corinthians 14:16). This passage shows that even in the early church, just as we do today, when the church community gathered together to pray, they said "Amen" as an answer to prayer.
"Amen" is a word Jesus used frequently. You might wonder, "Did Jesus ever say "Amen?" The original text of the phrase "Truly I say to you" translated as "Truly" says "Amen." He uses it so often in the Gospel of Matthew that it appears 30 times, in the Gospel of Mark 13 times, in the Gospel of Luke 6 times, and in the Gospel of John 25 times.
"Amen" particularly expresses trust and faith in God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses it twice, saying, "Truly, truly (Amen, amen)" (Amen, amen). This emphasizes the authority of Jesus' teachings, grounded in the truth of God. The prophet Isaiah also refers to God as "the God of Amen." In the Korean Bible, it is translated as "the faithful God" (Isaiah 65:16).
Above all, the Church teaches that “Jesus Christ himself is the Amen” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1065). The Apostle Paul says, “For in him all the promises of God are ‘Yes,’ and through him we say ‘Amen,’ to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Jesus is the definitive Amen to God’s love for us. As the Amen, Jesus receives and completes our ‘Amen’ to God.
There is no rule that says ‘Amen’ at the end of a prayer. However, there is no word that concludes a prayer as beautifully as ‘Amen’.
