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, 2797.

Here we consider the four dispositions required in order for us to pray the Lord’s Prayer properly. The Hebrew words batah (trust) and aman (to support, confide in, to trust) conjure up the idea of assurance, as do the Greek terms pistis (Faith) and plerophoria (full assurance).

Simple confidence is required to pray the Lord’s Prayer properly. Saint Paul exhibited simple confidence in Philippians 1:6 when he wrote, inspired by God, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” We learn the simplicty of confident prayer in 1 John 5:14 where we are reminded that “if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us.” Simple confidence in prayer seems evedently necessary when the Lord Himself teaches us that whatever we shall ask in prayer, believing, we shall receive (cf. Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24).

Faithful confidence is required to pray the Lord’s Prayer properly. In Sacred Scripture we read about faithful confidence in Hebrews 4:16, how we are to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” In Proverbs 14:26 we learn that we have strong confidence in the fear of the Lord and as His children we have refuge in Him.

Humble assurance is required to pray the Lord’s Prayer properly. The Lord’s Prayer is part of the Gospel Saint Paul preached in the Holy Spirit giving full assurance and hope (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:5). The Lord Jesus Himself teaches us about the humble assurance we should have in praying the Lord’ Prayer in John 14:13: “whatever you shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Joyous assurance is required to pray the Lord’s Prayer properly. With hearts full of faith, washed and made pure by God’s grace we have assurance of God’s love and mercy (cf. Hebrews 10:22). The joyful assurance we have over the Lord’s resurrection and our own on the last day is augmented by our prayer of the Lord’s Prayer (cf. Acts 17:31).

Without simplicity or faith, without humilty or joy how could we pray at all, let alone the Lord’s Prayer? Without confidence or assurance how deep is our prayer, our faith? It is better that we pray the Lord’s Prayer “as little children” that we might “be converted” and in God’s mercy “enter into the Kingdom of Heaven” (cf. Matthew 18:3). The Lord Himself desires that we come to Him in the simplicity and innocence of “little children” and we do so especially in the Lord’s Prayer (cf. Matthew 19:14). Jesus has taught us how to pray (cf. Luke 11:1–13).

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr