The "Our Father"
Christ taught the "Our Father," the model for all prayer
AFTER A NIGHT spent in prayer, our Lord called His disciples around Himself and chose twelve of them to be His Apostles. Then, in company with these Apostles and a large group of disciples, He descended to a spot on the mountain where a great crowd was waiting. In the sermon He delivered that morning there were words for both intimate followers and chance listeners; both groups had vague notions about Christ and His mission on earth. The sermon was a rich sampling of Christ's teachings and maxims. But it was not a complete exposition, for it included, for instance, no references the coming Redemption, to the Church or the Sacraments. Nevertheless, the effect of what He said that morning must have been tremendous. The Gospel itself tells us that there was great admiration and astonishment at the clearness, the novelty, the depth and beauty of this teaching.
Such would have been the reaction to His words on prayer. Ostentation in praying, Christ pointed out, will have no reward from God. As a model for the Christian's prayer He gave us the "Our Father," in which we pray, first of all, that God may be glorified. We should pray also for material needs, "our daily bread," with all that it implies for our bodily, mental, and moral well being. Finally, we should pray to be delivered from any evils that might impede our service of God.
Christ, with His disciples around Him, taught the perfect prayer. Today, mothers gather their children around them and teach them to pray. The "Our Father" can always be the model of all prayer for young and old.
"In this manner therefore shall you pray."
MATT. 6:9
THE inspired pages of the Bible contain, in addition to the "Our Father," some of the finest prayers ever composed. One of the most beautiful is the "Magnificat," Our Lady's own hymn of praise and thanksgiving.
THE MAGNIFICAT
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid,
for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
toward those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones
and has exalted the lowly.
The hungry He has filled with good things
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has given help to Israel His servant,
mindful of His mercy,
As He promised our fathers,
toward Abraham and his descendants forever.
LUKE 1:46-55
AFTER A NIGHT spent in prayer, our Lord called His disciples around Himself and chose twelve of them to be His Apostles. Then, in company with these Apostles and a large group of disciples, He descended to a spot on the mountain where a great crowd was waiting. In the sermon He delivered that morning there were words for both intimate followers and chance listeners; both groups had vague notions about Christ and His mission on earth. The sermon was a rich sampling of Christ's teachings and maxims. But it was not a complete exposition, for it included, for instance, no references the coming Redemption, to the Church or the Sacraments. Nevertheless, the effect of what He said that morning must have been tremendous. The Gospel itself tells us that there was great admiration and astonishment at the clearness, the novelty, the depth and beauty of this teaching.
Such would have been the reaction to His words on prayer. Ostentation in praying, Christ pointed out, will have no reward from God. As a model for the Christian's prayer He gave us the "Our Father," in which we pray, first of all, that God may be glorified. We should pray also for material needs, "our daily bread," with all that it implies for our bodily, mental, and moral well being. Finally, we should pray to be delivered from any evils that might impede our service of God.
Christ, with His disciples around Him, taught the perfect prayer. Today, mothers gather their children around them and teach them to pray. The "Our Father" can always be the model of all prayer for young and old.
"In this manner therefore shall you pray."
MATT. 6:9
THE inspired pages of the Bible contain, in addition to the "Our Father," some of the finest prayers ever composed. One of the most beautiful is the "Magnificat," Our Lady's own hymn of praise and thanksgiving.
THE MAGNIFICAT
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid,
for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
toward those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm;
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones
and has exalted the lowly.
The hungry He has filled with good things
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has given help to Israel His servant,
mindful of His mercy,
As He promised our fathers,
toward Abraham and his descendants forever.
LUKE 1:46-55
posted by Big Heavy | 9:05 PM
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