The Our
Father
312.
Why is the Our Father the best of all prayers?
The
Our Father is the best of all prayers because it is the Lord's
Prayer, taught us by Jesus Christ Himself, and because it is a
prayer of perfect and unselfish love. See Matthew 6:9-13 for the
Lord's Prayer.
313.
Why is the Our Father a prayer of perfect and unselfish love?
The
Our Father is a prayer of perfect and unselfish love because in
saying it we offer ourselves entirely to God and ask from Him the
best things, not only for ourselves but also for our neighbor.
314.
Why do we address God as "Our Father who art in heaven"?
We
address God as "Our Father who art in heaven" because we belong to
Him, our loving Father, who created us and watches over us, who
adopts us through sanctifying grace as His children, and who
destines us to live forever with Him in heaven, our true home.
In
my Father's house, there are many mansions. (John 14:2)
315.
For what do we pray when we say "hallowed be Thy name"?
When
we say "hallowed be Thy name," we pray that God may be known and
honored by all.
From
the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same, the name of
the Lord is worthy of praise. (Psalm 112:3)
316.
For what do we pray when we say "Thy kingdom come"?
When
we say "Thy kingdom come," we pray that the kingdom of God's grace
may be spread throughout the world, that all may come to know and to
enter the true Church and to live as worthy members of it, and that,
finally, we all may be admitted to the kingdom of God's glory.
You
therefore be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Matthew 5:48)
317.
For what do we pray when we say "Thy will be done on earth as it is
in heaven"?
When
we say "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven," we pray that
all may obey God on earth as willingly as the saints and angels obey
Him in heaven.
Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my
will but thine be done. (Luke 22:41)
318.
For what do we pray when we say "Give us this day our daily bread"?
When
we say "Give us this day our daily bread," we pray that God will
give us each day all that is necessary to support the material life
of our bodies and the spiritual life of our souls.
For
my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. (John 6:56)
319.
For what do we pray when we say "and forgive us our trespasses as we
forgive those who trespass against us"?
When
we say "and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us," we pray that God will pardon the sins by which
we have offended Him, and we tell Him that we pardon our fellow men
who have offended us.
For
if you forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you your offenses. But if you do not forgive men, neither
will your heavenly Father forgive you your offenses. (Matthew
6:14-15)
320.
For what do we pray when we say "and lead us not into temptation"?
When
we say "and lead us not into temptation," we pray that God will
always give us the grace to overcome the temptations to sin which
come to us from the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Because thou wast acceptable to God, it was necessary that
temptation should prove thee. (Tobias 12:13)
312.
For what do we pray when we say "but deliver us from evil"?
When
we say "but deliver us from evil," we pray that God will always
protect us from harm, and especially from harm to our souls.
I do
not pray that thou take them out of the world, but that thou keep
them from evil. (John 17:15)