Our Father…

29th Missionary Day

Our Father who art in heaven

It is the task of Christians to proclaim and bear witness that, even though “dwelling in unapproachable light” (1 Tim 6:16), the heavenly Father in his Son, incarnate in the womb of the Virgin Mary, who died and rose again, has drawn near to every person and makes them capable of “responding to him, of knowing him and of loving him” (cf. CCC, 52).

Hallowed be thy name.

The awareness that encountering God promotes and elevates the dignity of the human person leads us to pray in this way: “Hallowed be thy name,” that is: “May the knowledge of you shine within us, so that we may know the fullness of your benefits, the extent of your promises, the sublimity of your majesty, and the depth of your judgments.”

Your kingdom come, your will be done.

Jesus invites us to pray and teaches us that to enter the Kingdom of Heaven it is not enough to say "Lord, Lord," but to do "the will of your Father who is in heaven" (Mt 7:21).

Give us this day our daily bread.

In our time, there is a very strong awareness that everyone has the right to "daily bread," that is, what is necessary to live. There is also a strong sense of the need for essential equality and solidarity that unites all people. Nevertheless, many still do not live up to their dignity as human beings.

Forgive us our trespasses.

Missionary activity cannot fail to bring to people and nations the joyful announcement of God's merciful goodness… Here is the authentic face of God, a Father full of love, who gives strength to overcome evil with good and makes it possible to exchange one's love to collaborate in the redemption of the world.

How do we forgive those who have offended us?

Only those who have experienced God's love in their lives are capable of loving others generously and transparently. Forgiveness is a privileged expression of divine charity, given as a free gift to those who persistently ask for it.

Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

With these final petitions, in the "Our Father," we ask God not to allow us to enter the path of sin and to deliver us from evil, which comes from Satan, who wants to destroy God's plan and the work of salvation He accomplished in Christ.

 (St. John Paul II, message of the year 1999)