The Our Father (or the Lord’s Prayer)

The Our Father is the oldest of Christian prayers, going back to Jesus Christ himself, who, as it says in the gospel of Matthew, taught his disciples to pray in these words. Because the prayer came from Christ, it is used in every mass and liturgy and recited by billions of people every day. In thinking about “our Father,” we should recognize that there are two Latin words for “father,” pater and genitor. The latter refers to the biological act of fathering. The former, and the more important, pater refers to the protective and guiding acts of a father. The Lord’s prayer in Latin begins “Pater Noster.”

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Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.