Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo
Amen.
The Our Father: A Catholic Reflection on the Lord’s Prayer
The Our Father, also known as the Lord’s Prayer, holds a special place in Catholic spirituality. Given to us by Jesus Himself, this prayer serves as a model for all prayer and encapsulates the essence of our relationship with God. Let’s explore the depth and richness of the Our Father from a Catholic perspective.
The Origin of the Our Father
The Our Father appears in the Gospels of Matthew (6:9-13) and Luke (11:2-4). In both accounts, Jesus teaches this prayer to His disciples when they ask Him how to pray. This divine origin gives the Our Father a unique authority and significance in Christian prayer life.
The Structure of the Prayer
The Our Father consists of seven petitions, which can be divided into two parts:
- The first three petitions focus on God:
- “Hallowed be Thy name”
- “Thy kingdom come”
- “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
- The last four petitions focus on our needs:
- “Give us this day our daily bread”
- “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”
- “Lead us not into temptation”
- “But deliver us from evil”
Catholic Insights into the Our Father
“Our Father, Who art in heaven”
The prayer begins by addressing God as Father, reflecting the intimate relationship we have with Him through Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes that this address is a gift of adoption, allowing us to call God “Father” with confidence and trust.
“Hallowed be Thy name”
This petition recognizes the holiness of God and expresses our desire for His name to be honored and revered by all. It’s a call for us to live in a way that glorifies God.
“Thy kingdom come”
Catholics understand this as both a prayer for the growth of God’s kingdom on earth through the Church and a longing for Christ’s second coming and the fullness of God’s reign.
“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
This petition aligns our will with God’s, echoing Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane. It’s an act of surrender and trust in God’s plan.
“Give us this day our daily bread”
While this refers to our physical needs, Catholics also see in this petition a reference to the Eucharist, the Bread of Life that sustains us spiritually.
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”
This challenging petition links God’s forgiveness of us with our forgiveness of others. It reminds us of our need for God’s mercy and our duty to extend that mercy to others.
“Lead us not into temptation”
The Catholic interpretation of this petition is not that God leads us into temptation, but rather a plea for God’s grace to avoid or overcome temptation.
“But deliver us from evil”
This final petition asks for God’s protection from the Evil One and all forms of evil that threaten our salvation.
The Our Father in Catholic Life
The Our Father holds a central place in Catholic worship and personal devotion:
- It’s recited in every Mass, forming part of the Communion Rite.
- It’s an integral part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church’s daily prayer.
- It’s often used in the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a penance.
- Many Catholics begin and end their day with this prayer.
Conclusion
The Our Father is more than just a series of petitions; it’s a profound expression of our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. It teaches us how to pray, what to pray for, and how to live as children of God. As Catholics, when we pray the Our Father, we join our voices with Christ and the entire Church, expressing our deepest needs and highest aspirations. In its simplicity and depth, the Our Father truly is, as Tertullian called it, “a summary of the whole Gospel.