1. Christian Prayer Session 2: The Lord’s Prayer— “Our Father”
Welcome!
Christian Prayer
Session 2: The Lord’s Prayer— “Our Father”

2. How can the Lord's Prayer transform my daily living of the Gospel?

3. Session Schedule Opening Prayer Paired Activity
Talk #1: The Summary of the Whole Gospel: “Our Father”
Standing Activity
Talk #2: The Seven Petitions
Small Group Activity
Closing Prayer

4. Opening Prayer: Taize (“Ubi Caritas”)
Ubi caritas et amor; Ubi caritas, Deus ibi est (“Where charity and love are… Where charity is, there God is”)

6. Paired Activity: Pair, Share, Compare
Brainstorm and write down characteristics of a loving father
Discuss how God has demonstrated these characteristics either in your own life, or throughout salvation history
Consider why it was so important for Jesus to reveal the Father--and to give us his Father as our Father

7. Talk # 1: The Summary of the Gospel: “Our Father, who art in heaven…”
“Run through all the words of holy prayers [in Scripture], and I do not think you will find anything in them that is not contained in the Lord’s Prayer” (St. Augustine).
The “Our Father” is at the heart of every individual and communal prayer.

8. “Our Father”
Through Baptism, we are given the grace of an adopted, “filial,” relationship with the Father
The Old Testament understands God’s relationship of providential care for Israel
Jesus fully reveals the truth which is at the center of his life: “Abba”
We are a communion of persons with each other because we have been baptized into a Communion of Persons, the Holy Trinity

9. “Who Art in Heaven”
Heaven is the goal toward which we are heading and to which, already, we belong (CCC, n. 2802)
Heaven is not “somewhere” but is “Someone”
“Heaven” does not designate a place, but indicates God’s presence, which is not bound by space and time (YOUCAT, n. 518)
Therese of Lisieux on Spiritual Childhood & “The Little Way”

11. Standing Activity: “Mind Mapping” the Petitions
Which Petition are you most drawn to, and why?
In what ways do you find it comforting or challenging or inspiring?
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
Give us our daily bread
Forgive us our trespasses
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from evil

12. Standing Activity: “Mind Mapping” the Petitions
Which Petition are you most drawn to, and why?
In what ways do you find it comforting or challenging or inspiring?
Work with others to
create a “mind map” for your personal reflections on this petition…

13. Talk #2: The Seven Petitions
“Hallowed be thy name” “To be made holy”- God is the source of his own holiness; we give witness to his perfection and glory “Thy kingdom come” a Kingdom of love, justice, and mercy, where sins are forgiven, the sick are made whole, enemies are reconciled, captives are freed, and the needs of the poor are met
“Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”
desiring to unite our will to that of Jesus, so as to fulfill the plan of salvation in the world

14. “Give us this day our daily bread” Earthly nourishment is necessary to everyone for subsistence, as is the Bread of Life--the Word of God and the Body of Christ
“And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”
The best way to obtain mercy is to be merciful; Jesus stressed mercy and forgiveness in numerous ways

15. …Petitions of the Lord’s Prayer
“And lead us not into temptation” Keep us alert to the dangers of sin, and give us the grace to resist temptation (preventative medicine) “But deliver us from evil” We ask God to deliver us from the Evil One, who wants to prevent our salvation
Armor of God
“Let us open ourselves in sincere trust to the Risen Christ, so that his victory over evil and death may also triumph in each one of us.” - Pope Benedict XVI

17. The “Doxology” & Great “Amen”
“For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever”
Amen = “So be it” We joyfully ratify the words that Jesus has taught us & conform our will to God’s will

18. Small Group Activity: Promoting Petitions
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done
Give us our daily bread
Forgive us our trespasses
Lead us not into temptation
Deliver us from evil
Create a "billboard" which would promote the importance of this petition

19. Small Group Activity: Promoting Petitions
How could they help explain its meaning to people of our time?
What associations come to mind when you consider this petition?
Does it make you think of a particular person, event, or Scripture passage?…
How could you use symbols to help represent its message?
Create a "billboard" which would promote the importance of this petition

20. How can the Lord's Prayer transform my daily living of the Gospel?

21. Follow-up Reflection and Resources
1) Session Evaluation & Feedback
2) Recommended follow-up: US/CCA, Chapters 36: “Jesus Taught us to Pray”
Catholicism, Episode IX:
“The Fire of His Love: Prayer and the Life of the Spirit”
3) For Catechists & Catholic School Teachers: “Record of Formation,” including:
required reflection & documentation

23. Closing Prayer: Mediation on the “Our Father”
Our Father & our mission…
Our Father, who art in Heaven Lord, as your sons and daughters, draw us to you and help us keep our eyes fixed on Heaven our true home… Hallowed by thy name You are holy, God. May we always reverence your name and make us holy, as you are holy…

24. “Our Father”
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven We struggle to find purpose and meaning in the world. Unite our wills with yours so that we may love one another as you have loved us to better fulfill your will for our lives…
Give us this day our daily bread
Lord, we trust in you. Give us what we need both physically and spiritually. Give us the courage to meet the needs of those less fortunate…

25. “Our Father”
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us Come Holy Spirit that through your intercession we may have the necessary grace to forgive others so that we may also be forgiven…

26. “Our Father”
And lead us not into temptation Lord, you do not let us be tempted beyond our strength. Give us the gift of discernment that we may avoid those situations that will tempt us to sin.... But deliver us from evil Deliver our world from the hands of the evil one. We realize this will only be done when your Son comes again. We wait in hope for that day…. AMEN!