Copyright © 2006 By Doug Lawrence. All Rights Reserved.
Catechism Of The Catholic Church Reprinted With Permission.
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God’s Truth From
The Catechism Of The Catholic Church
SECTION TWO
THE LORD'S PRAYER
"OUR FATHER!"
ARTICLE 3
THE SEVEN PETITIONS
2803 After we have placed ourselves in the presence of God our Father to adore and to love and
to bless him, the Spirit of adoption stirs up in our hearts seven petitions, seven blessings. The first
three, more theological, draw us toward the glory of the Father; the last four, as ways toward him,
commend our wretchedness to his grace. "Deep calls to deep."
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2804 The first series of petitions carries us toward him, for his own sake: thy name, thy kingdom,
thy will! It is characteristic of love to think first of the one whom we love. In none of the three
petitions do we mention ourselves; the burning desire, even anguish, of the beloved Son for his
Father's glory seizes us:
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"hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done. . . . " These
three supplications were already answered in the saving sacrifice of Christ, but they are henceforth
directed in hope toward their final fulfillment, for God is not yet all in all.
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2805 The second series of petitions unfolds with the same movement as certain Eucharistic
epicleses: as an offering up of our expectations, that draws down upon itself the eyes of the Father
of mercies. They go up from us and concern us from this very moment, in our present world: "give
us . .
. forgive us . . . lead us not . .
. deliver us. . . . " The fourth and fifth petitions concern our life
as such - to be fed and to be healed of sin; the last two concern our battle for the victory of life -
that battle of prayer.
2806 By the three first petitions, we are strengthened in faith, filled with hope, and set aflame by
charity. Being creatures and still sinners, we have to petition for us, for that "us" bound by the world
and history, which we offer to the boundless love of God. For through the name of his Christ and
the reign of his Holy Spirit, our Father accomplishes his plan of salvation, for us and for the whole
world.
* I. "HALLOWED BE THY NAME"
2807 The term "to hallow" is to be understood here not primarily in its causative sense (only God
hallows, makes holy), but above all in an evaluative sense: to recognize as holy, to treat in a holy
way. And so, in adoration, this invocation is sometimes understood as praise and thanksgiving.
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But this petition is here taught to us by Jesus as an optative: a petition, a desire, and an
expectation in which God and man are involved. Beginning with this first petition to our Father, we
are immersed in the innermost mystery of his Godhead and the drama of the salvation of our
humanity. Asking the Father that his name be made holy draws us into his plan of loving kindness
for the fullness of time, "according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ," that we might "be
holy and blameless before him in love."
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2808 In the decisive moments of his economy God reveals his name, but he does so by
accomplishing his work. This work, then, is realized for us and in us only if his name is hallowed by
us and in us.
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