Chapter 11 - Practical Conclusion

This short exposition is sufficient to show that the Lord's Prayer includes or implies the principal points of Christian morality, and of our duty to God, our neighbor, and ourselves. Each according to his need and condition, will discover there on searching, an inexhaustible source of light and affection. But it is necessary to put it in practice. It is useless to read, reflect, and meditate, if we do not resolve to perform. We must also expect to render a strict account to God for the light which has enlightened without reforming us. I grant that it is not possible, every time we recite this prayer, to have distinctly before our minds the detail of all the things contained therein. Neither does God require this; but He desires that we should be so sufficiently instructed, according to the capacity of each, in the meaning of this divine prayer, as to have in our hearts the feelings which ought to result from it, and to make it the rule of our life. To this end it would be well to read seriously, attentively, and repeatedly the preceding exposition, or some similar one; permitting grace to act upon our souls, and abandoning ourselves to the holy thoughts and pious affections that it may inspire. It would be still better to take each one of the articles of which this prayer is composed, as a subject of daily meditation, each one applying it to his own special state and disposition, and to continue this exercise just as long as the soul can find any nourishment in it. If one has no facility in meditating, it will suffice to put one's self in the presence of God, beseeching Him to instruct one Himself, and to give the understanding and spirit of each petition, with the necessary grace to practise it. This prayer, if we will only make it, listening to God in silence, with humility, simplicity, and docility, will be as instructive and useful as books and reflections, though we should never neglect to make use of these when we have them at hand. We should examine ourselves seriously, to ascertain if we have lived up to this time, or if we have resolved to live henceforth, according to the spirit of this prayer: for example, if we regard God as a Father, and if we have in this respect the disposition He has a right to expect from His children; if we love other Christians as brothers in Jesus Christ, and if we wish for them all the temporal and spiritual good we desire for ourselves, and do for them all the good we are able; to examine also, in what we hallow the name of God, and in what we fail; what we can do more for ourselves and others; and so on with each petition.

An examination like this, made in the presence of God, will be of the greatest advantage, and will put us in the way of an entire reformation of our principles, our affections, and our conduct. It will prompt us to make upon each point good resolutions, to follow them, and to render a faithful account of them, which is the work of a good will. In thus submitting the plan of life to the Lord's Prayer, we should always have before our eyes one simple object, which should not fatigue the attention of the mind; the strength of the will should be concentrated upon this single end, and we should consider whether we are making progress, or whether we are going backward. This prayer should be the subject of our daily examination, and it should hold a place as an exercise for Holy Communion. We should draw from it during the day, subjects of meditation and prayer, and a throng of holy thoughts and aspirations. Every thing invites to the embracing of a method so simple, founded upon the authority of Christ Himself; and by following it, we shall surely attain to a very high perfection. How many good souls have been sanctified, knowing only " Our Father," and having no other teacher than the Holy Spirit! Though we should possess no other advantage than that of reciting this divine prayer with a recollected spirit, and a heart penetrated with affection, this would be very great, and would draw down upon us the benediction of our heavenly Father.

Saint Augustine said formally, in several places, that the Lord's Prayer, recited as it should be, would entirely efface our daily faults. Is not this a reason for learning to say it well?

I will end this little work by an excellent precept, which I have insinuated more than once, viz., Give yourself to Jesus Christ with all your heart, that He may instruct you Himself upon the truths He has comprehended in His prayer, that He may inspire in you a clear perception of them, and that He may grant you the grace necessary to practise them as perfectly as He desires. You will certainly be heard if you desire to be.

- from The Christian Sanctified by the Lord's Prayer, by Father Jean Nicolas Grou