Giving the Our Father to the Catechumen

from Traditional Western Orthodoxy on YouTube 

Preface of Address to Giving the Our Father to the Catechumen from our Western Orthodox Roman Catechumenate Service prior to Baptism: 

 The Priest then gives the following explanation concerning the Our Father: 

Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, among the rest of His Saving Precepts, when His Disciples asked Him how they ought to pray, not only gave them a form of prayer, but also shewed them with what intention and purity they should pray, as the lesson hath made known to [thee] you in fulness. 

 Beloved, hear now in what manner He teacheth His Disciples to pray to God the Father Almighty: “Then when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut the door, pray to thy Father.” When He speaks of a closet, He does not mean some hidden room, but the secret recess of the heart; that is, He would have us shut our breast from every evil thought by the mystical key of faith; and, with closed lips, address God by an uncorrupted mind. For Our God is the Hearer of our faith, not of our voice. Therefore the Word of God and Wisdom of God, Christ Our Lord, taught us this prayer, that we should pray thus:

--- The Priest then tells the Catechumen (or godparent if the Catechumen is an infant) to say the following: Say the Our Father. The Catechumen (or godparent if the Catechumen is an infant) then says the 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 that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver from evil. Amen. 

 The Priest then gives the following Exposition on the Our Father; 

"Our Father Who art in Heaven." 

This is the voice of liberty, and full of confidence. Therefore it behooves us to live in this manner, that we may be the sons of God, and brethren of Christ. For with what temerity shall he presume to call God His Father, Who basely departs from His Will? Therefore, shew yourselves, most dearly beloved, worthy of the Divine adoption, for it is written, “As many as believed in Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.” [Jn. 1:12] 

 "Hallowed be Thy Name." 

That is, not that God is hallowed by our prayers; but we pray that His Name may be sanctified in us; that we, who are sanctified in His Baptism, may persevere in that which we have begun to be.

 "Thy Kingdom come." 

For when does Our God not Reign, Whose Kingdom especially is Immortal? But when we say, “Thy Kingdom come,” we pray that our kingdom may draw near, which has been promised to us by God, and obtained by the Blood and Passion of Christ. 

 "Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven." That is, may Thy Will be done so that we may, without blame, perform on Earth that which Thou willest in Heaven. 

 "Give us this day our daily bread." 

 Here we ought to understand Spiritual Food; for Christ is Our Bread, Who said, “I am the Living Bread Which Came Down from Heaven.” Inasmuch as we call It “daily,” He warns us always to be free from sin, that we may be fit to receive the Heavenly Nourishment. 

 "And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us." 

 This is a precept, signifying that we cannot otherwise be worthy to receive the pardon of sins, unless we first grant pardon to those who have offended against us; as Our Lord speaks in the Gospel, “If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” 

 "And lead us not into temptation." 

 That is, suffer us not to be led into sin by him who tempts us, the author of evil. For the Scripture says, God is not the tempter of evil men; but the devil is the tempter. In order to overcome whom, the Lord said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.”

 "But deliver us from evil." 

 This, therefore, He saith, as the Apostle said: “Ye know not what ye ought to pray.” Wherefore Almighty God is to be entreated by us that He, Our Lord Jesus Christ, may favourably deign to grant us protection from that which our human weakness is unable to shun and to avoid, Who Liveth and Reigneth, God, in the Unity of the Holy Ghost, through all the ages of ages. R. Amen.

 The Deacon then chants: Stand ye with discipline and with silence, and listen ye intently! The Priest then says to the Catechumens: Ye have heard, most dearly beloved, the Holy Mysteries of the Lord’s Prayer; [now as ye go], keep them ever new in your hearts, so that ye may be perfect in Christ to ask and to receive the Mercy of God. Powerful is Our Lord God, Who is able both to lead you who seek after the faith to the laver of the water of regeneration, and to bring us, who have delivered to you the Mystery of the Catholic Faith, together with you to the Heavenly Kingdom. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the Unity of the Holy Ghost, through all the ages of ages. R. Amen.