My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are nineteen (19) In Brief articles in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which treat the Lord’s Prayer or “Our Father.” The following reflection considers CCC, 2799.
Saint John Paul II (+2005) published the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992/1997). When it treats the Lord’s Prayer it highlights at least two things dear to the Holy Pontiff’s heart which we consider here, namely communion with God and self-knowledge.
The Lord’s Prayer puts us in communion with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Holy Mother Church is a communion of persons, mirroring the eternal communion of Divine Persons, the Trinity. In order for us to be in communion with the Eternal Father and the Eternal Son we ought to pray as the Son has taught us to pray to the Father. We do this when we pray the Lord’s Prayer. We pray the Lord’s Prayer in obedience to the Son, allowing Him to be the Master of our lives of prayer. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer we are speaking with and to the Father. Another aspect of the communion which the Lord’s Prayer realizes is that all of God’s children, adopted in Holy Baptism pray the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer of the Church par excellence in that the Founder of Mother Church has given it, commanding it to be prayed, and is prayed by all, head and members to the Father in obedience to the Son in the Spirit.
The Lord’s Prayer reveals us to ourselves (cf. GS, 22). Jesus reveals to us not only the Father (cf. John 10:30; 14:9), but us to ourselves. The Lord Jesus, true God and true man, lived as a man amongst men, like us in all things but sin (cf. Hebrews 2:17). So, when the Lord Jesus teaches us to pray to the Father He is also teaching us about our divine adoption. To call God our Father, asking for our daily bread, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer is to realize our dependence upon God our Father. When we acknowledge God’s being in Heaven we acknowledge from whence our souls have come and whence they tend. Our prayer regarding the holiness of God’s Name reminds us of our human nature, given us by God, which has the Natural Law inscribed upon our hearts, the Second Commandment included. Our prayer of the Lord’s Prayer highlights our reliance upon God’s mercy and our need for God’s mercy.
Our communion with God relies primarily upon Him, His creation, His redemption, His grace and revelation. Our cooperation is not insignificant, however. When we sin we refuse God’s grace, revelation, redemption, preferring creation to the Creator. Our fidelity to prayer, especially the Lord’s Prayer, helps us to know God and ourselves better. God has made us and redeemed us, giving Himself up on Calvary’s Cross for our salvation. Our prayer and God’s will are united in the Lord’s Prayer.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr