Daily Inspiration

“Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.” —Luke 11:1-4

Two of my favorite friends, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Ignatius of Loyola, both spent years contemplating the Lord’s Prayer. While they lived in the same era, and country, they never met. Interestingly, they were both canonized on the same day. Their focus on the Lord’s Prayer was also interesting. They spent years upon years focusing on only the first two words. Our Father.

The formal prayers given to us are not to be spouted like some complex formula that we spit out before we forget them. These prayers are rich and deep, and they are one of the ways we speak to Our Lord. When you pray, slow down. Speak each word as you would if you were speaking to a King, because you are.

As you say the Pater Noster today, stop and dwell upon the words “Our Father…” How would you live your life the rest of this day if you believed, not just in your mind, but deep in your heart, that God is your Father?

Watch today’s saint of the day video