“At the Saviour’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say…” The Our Father is found in all ancient liturgies from earliest times, usually after the Canon of the Mass. We make three petitions out of love for the Father Himself, and four asking for benefits for ourselves. Only on the foundation of Our Lord’s own command and teaching do we even dare to make these petitions.

When we ask the Father to give us our daily bread, this means not only the food that we need in His providence for our material nourishing, but also the Blessed Sacrament which feeds our soul for eternal life.

When we ask not to be led into temptation, we know the Father will not encourage us to sin; we are begging Him not to be put to the time of trial. When we face physical, mental or spiritual suffering, we can make our own the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane, “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Lk 22.42)

Our Blessed Lord gave us the Our Father is a compendium of all prayer. It sums up all that we need to pray for in this life while awaiting the “blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.