in the presence of God, and, in all his actions, have no other object in view but that of promoting the divine honour." — St. C. Borromeo.
On the Lord's Prayer.
THE Lord’s prayer consists of a preamble or preface, and seven petitions; seven being a mysterious or mystical number in the sacred writings: it is the most dignified and perfect of all prayers, and excels every other for six principal reasons: viz., by reason,
| 1st. Of its Author, | Being God. |
| 2nd. Its Brevity, | A compendium of the Gospel.— Tertullian. |
| 3rd. Order, | 1st. Proposing God’s glory. 2nd. Our own necessities |
| 4th. Efficacy, | Christ’s own words, consequently most efficacious. |
| 5th. Necessity, | All being bound to know and recite It. |
| 6th. Of its comprising the Acts of the divine and Moral Virtues, | First, expressing the divine; second, the moral virtues. |
A PARAPHRASE ON THE LORD’S PRAYER.
Our Father, who art in Heaven.
O ALMIGHTY Lord, maker of heaven and earth, infinite in Majesty, is it possible that thy love and goodness for us should be so great, as to suffer so poor worms as we are to call thee Father? O make us ever dutiful children to such a parent! O my soul, ever remember this dignity to which thou art raised, of being a child of God: and see thou never degenerate by making thyself a slave to sin and the devil. O most holy Father, who dwellest in heaven and heavenly souls, raise my heart to thee; and teach me, by thy interior grace, to pray to thee this day with due attention, devotion, humility, and faith.
