It is important to remember, that
Jesus Christ himself prayed to the Father Almighty every day.
Christ was the incarnate flesh of the most divine father.
A Filial Prayer
In his human heart Jesus learned to pray from his
mother, from the synagogue, and the Jerusalem temple. At
12, Jesus said “I must be in my Father’s house” (Lk
2:49). This reveals a filial prayer which the Father
wants from his children.
Prayer At Three
Decisive Moments
Before his three decisive moments (Baptism,
Transfiguration, and Passion) Jesus prayed. He also
prayed before three other decisive moments involving the
apostles (his choosing them, his commissioning Peter,
and his prayer that Peter’s faith would not fail).
Jesus At Prayer Jesus prayed in solitude,
preferably at night. He prayed for all men, and by his
prayer shared in all their human experiences. His words
and work manifest the prayers which he said in secret.
Two Special
Moments
Two other Gospel texts preserve explicit prayers of
Jesus. In the first prayer Jesus blesses the Father and
thanks him for revealing “to the childlike.” Jesus
exclaimed, “Yes, Father!” which prefigured his prayer in
the garden, (“Thy will be done”).
In his second prayer
Jesus prayed, “Father, I thank you for having heard me.
I know that you always hear me.” This implies that the
Father answers Jesus’ petitions and that Jesus is always
asking. Another prayer of Jesus’ (his priestly prayer in
John 17) is closely linked with the Our Father.
Selfless Prayer
Jesus’ total selflessness is shown by his prayer in the
Garden (“Not my will be done, but yours” (Lk 22:42) and
by his final seven words on the cross:
“Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34).
“Today, you will be
with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43).
“Woman, behold your
son.” “Behold your mother” (Jn 19:26-27).
“I thirst” (Jn
19:28).
“My God, my God, why
have your forsaken me?” (Mk 15:34).
“It is finished” (Jn
19:30).
“Father, into your
hands, I commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46).
Conclusion Of
The Prayer Drama
Jesus sums up all the troubles of enslaved humanity. “My
God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mk 15:37). When
the Father accepted these prayers and raised Jesus, the
drama of prayer was brought to completion. Psalm 2 gives
the key to Christ’s prayer. “You are my Son, today (the
Resurrection day) I have begotten you. Ask of me and I
will make the nations your heritage” (Ps 2:7-8).
While Jesus was “in the
flesh” he offered prayers which were heard by the
Father. By obedience, he was made perfect and “became
the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him”
(Heb 5:7-9).
The 10 Commandments
1. I am
the Lord, your God. You shall not have other gods beside me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in
vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.
4. Honor your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your
neighbor.
Our Father:
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.
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven, and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
Amen.
Glory
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy.
0h, Divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Magnificat
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit finds joy in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, all ages to
come shall call me blessed.
God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is his
name.
His mercy is from age to age
on those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm;
he has confused the proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has deposed the mighty from their thrones
and raised the lowly to high places.
The hungry he has given every good thing
while the rich he has sent away empty.
He has upheld Israel his servant,
ever mindful of his mercy.
Even as he promised our ancesters,
promised Abraham and his descendants forever.
Amen
