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WHEN YOU PRAY
• Jesus is the “Master of prayer” for a Christian. While
Jesus himself prays, He teaches us how to pray. And at the
same time, it is He who gives us precise indications about
prayer. For example:
• “When you pray, say: ‘Father’” (St. Luke 11:2).
• “Don’t waste words as the pagans do, those who believe
their prayers will be answered by the strength of their
words […] because the Father knows what you need even before
you ask him” (St. Matthew 6:7-8).
• “When you pray, enter your room and close the door, pray
to your Father in secret” (St. Matthew 6:6).
• “When you present your gift at the altar and there, you
remember that your brother has something against you, leave
your gift at the altar and go and reconcile first with your
brother, and then offer your gift” (St. Matthew 5:23-24).
• “Pray for those who persecute you, because you are sons of
your heavenly Father” (St. Matthew 5:44-45).
• Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find,
knock and it will be opened to you” (St. Luke 11:9). “Ask
and you will receive so that your joy may be complete” (St.
John 16:24).
• “You don’t have because you don’t ask; you ask and you
don’t receive because you don’t ask properly” (James 4:2-3).
• “Seek first the Kingdom of God” (St. Matthew 6:33) and
your heavenly Father
will grant the one who prays everything he needs.
To the request: “Lord, teach us to pray” (St. Luke 11:1),
Jesus answers by teaching the prayer of the Our Father. This
prayer:
• is the synthesis of the entire Gospel
• makes us enter into communion with the Father and with
Jesus Christ. At the same time, it reveals us to ourselves
• contains seven petitions to God the Father. The first
three aim at giving glory to the Father: the sanctification
of the Father’s Name, the coming of His kingdom and the
fulfillment of His divine will. The four other petitions
present to the Father our desires, regarding our life so as
to nourish it, heal it from sin and free it from evil
• with the final Amen, we express our fiat to the seven
intentions: So be it!
Next - What are the Sources A
Christian Draws From For His Prayer?
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