Catholic Digital Resources presents Journeying to Holiness through

Catholic Digital Resources presents. . . Journeying to Holiness through the “Our Father” Prayer The Prayer that Jesus Gave Us © 2008 Terry Modica, Catholic Digital Resources – catholicdr. com

The “OUR FATHER” Prayer Read Matthew 6: 7 -15 Jesus gives us this prayer as a summary of the best, the most comprehensive way to pray. Q: Why? Ø Each part of it is meant to be very powerful. We usually rush through the words. Let’s look at them slowly …

The 'Our Father' Prayer OUR FATHER Ø We recognize that God created us. ü As a child of God, you are special! Ø We recognize that He created everyone. ü As children of God, we are all brothers and sisters equally but uniquely special. ü We are to care about everyone in God’s whole family! Q: We don’t love everyone all the time. We have faults. We sin. Does our Father really love us all the time? How do you know?

The 'Our Father' Prayer WHO ART IN HEAVEN Ø Our Father is the majestic king of the universe, supreme over all. Q: What is heaven? Q: Is it limited only to the after-life? Ø God is love… Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is life in the fullness of love. ü Read Matthew 22: 36 -40 Q: Can we really love our Father with all our heart, soul, & mind? Can we really love all of God’s children?

The 'Our Father' Prayer HALLOWED BE THY NAME Ø We acknowledge that God’s name is holy. ü In scripture, the “name” represented all that the person was - his personality, his talents, his love, etc. ü We are acknowledging our respect for God’s holiness. ü We are acknowledging our need for God’s holiness. Q: How can we enter more into His holiness?

The 'Our Father' Prayer THY KINGDOM COME Ø We want God’s holiness to come into our world… ü which starts with his holiness coming into our lives. ü We’re telling God that we want all of His love and all of His holiness to fill our lives. Q: But we are sinners. How can we have more of God's holiness? How can we become holier?

The 'Our Father' Prayer THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN Ø Because we are sinners, we usually want to do things our own way. ü We can be very strong-willed children. ü Now, we are praying to overcome this. ü We are surrendering our will; we want God’s will to prevail. ü We are trusting that God’s will is best, even when we don’t understand it. Q: But why is this so difficult to do? Day after day … temptation after temptation … in easy times and in hardships … This is impossible! So we pray…

The 'Our Father' Prayer GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD Ø We’re saying: ü Father, give me whatever I need to succeed at doing Your will. ü Empower me. Q: What Sacrament is the “daily bread” that God provides to us? Q: But there are things we do that block God's empowerment. What are some examples? Q: How do we get rid of these blockages?

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The 'Our Father' Prayer DELIVER US FROM EVIL (from the Evil One) Ø Jesus conquered Satan and all sources of temptation on the Cross. Ø We are choosing to enter into God's protection by once again accepting that sacrifice on the Cross.

FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER! Amen!