Evangelicum Catholic Homeschool & Catechesis: 4. Prayer

4. PRAYER

THE PENNY CATECHISM & PRAYER

Prayer

141. What is prayer?

Prayer is the raising up of the mind and heart to God.

142. How do we raise up our mind and heart to God?

We raise up our mind and heart to God by thinking of God; by adoring, praising, and thanking him; and by begging of him all blessings for soul and body.

143. Do those pray well who, at their prayers, think neither of God nor of what they say?

Those who, at their prayers, think neither of God nor of what they say, do not pray well; but they offend God, if their distractions are wilful.

144. Which is the best of all prayers?

The best of all prayers is the 'Our Father', or the Lord's Prayer.

145. Who made the Lord's Prayer?

Jesus Christ himself made the Lord's Prayer.

146. Say the Lord's Prayer.

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.

147. In the Lord's Prayer who is called 'our Father'?

In the Lord's prayer God is called 'our Father'.

148. Why is God called 'our Father'?

God is called 'our Father' because he is the Father of all Christians, whom he has made his children by Holy Baptism.

149. Is God also the Father of all mankind?

God is also the Father of all mankind because he made them all. and loves and preserves them all.

150. Why do we say, 'our' Father, and not 'my' Father?

We say 'our' Father, and not 'my' Father, because, being all brethren, we are to pray not for ourselves only, but also for all others.

151. When we say, 'hallowed be thy name', what do we pray for?

When we say, 'hallowed be thy name', we pray that God may be known, loved, and served by all his creatures.

152. When we say, 'thy Kingdom come', what do we pray for?

When we say, 'thy kingdom come', we pray that God may come and reign in the hearts of all by his grace in this world, and bring us all hereafter to his heavenly kingdom.

153. When we say, 'thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven', what do we pray for?

When we say, 'thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven', we pray that God may enable us, by his grace, to do his will in all things, as the Blessed do in heaven.

154. When we say, 'give us this day our daily bread', what do we pray for?

When we say, 'give us this day our daily bread' we pray that God may give us daily all that is necessary for soul and body.

155. When we say 'forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us', what do we pray for?

When we say, 'forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us', we pray that God may forgive us our sins, as we forgive others the injuries they do to us.

156. When we say, 'lead us not into temptation', what do we pray for?