Our Father
The fundamental prayer of Christianity
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
About the Our Father
The Our Father (also known as the Lord's Prayer or Pater Noster in Latin) is the most important prayer in Christianity. It was taught directly by Jesus Christ to His disciples when they asked Him to show them how to pray.
Biblical Origin
This prayer appears in two Gospel passages: in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13) and when the disciples request instruction on prayer (Luke 11:2-4). The text used in the Catholic Rosary comes primarily from Matthew's version.
Structure: The Seven Petitions
The Our Father contains seven petitions divided into two fundamental groups:
God-centered petitions:
- Hallowed be thy name — May God's name be recognized as holy throughout the world
- Thy kingdom come — We pray for the coming of God's Kingdom in our hearts
- Thy will be done — We ask for the grace to accept and fulfill the divine will
Petitions for our needs:
- Give us this day our daily bread — Material and spiritual needs, including the Eucharist
- Forgive us our trespasses — We request divine forgiveness and commit to forgiving others
- Lead us not into temptation — We ask for strength against trials
- Deliver us from evil — Protection from the evil one and all moral evil
In the Holy Rosary
During the complete Rosary, the Our Father is prayed six times: once at the beginning (after the Apostles' Creed) and once before each of the five decades of Hail Marys. This structure marks the beginning of each mystery that is meditated upon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pray the Our Father?
The Our Father is prayed by saying: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."
How many times is the Our Father said in the Rosary?
In a complete Rosary, the Our Father is prayed 6 times: once at the beginning after the Apostles' Creed, and once before each of the five decades. Each Our Father marks the beginning of a new Rosary mystery.
What is the origin of the Our Father prayer?
Jesus taught the Our Father to His disciples as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew (6:9-13) and Luke (11:2-4). It is considered the most important prayer in Christianity because it comes directly from Christ in response to "Lord, teach us to pray."
Why is it also called "The Lord's Prayer"?
It is called "The Lord's Prayer" (Oratio Dominica) because it was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who taught it. Unlike other prayers composed by saints or the Church, this comes directly from Christ, giving it unique authority in Christian tradition.