LESSON LXIV.

ON THE LORD'S PRAYER.

Q. Which is the best of all prayer?

A. The best of all prayers is the Lord's Prayer, so called because it was taught by our Lord himself, who composed it.

Q. Repeat the Lord's Prayer in English.

A. 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 them who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Q. Repeat it in Latin.

A. Pater noster, qui es in cœlis, sanctificetur nomen tuum: adveniat regnum tuum: fiat voluntas tua sicut in cœlo et in terrâ. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris: et ne nos inducas in tentationem sed libera nos à malo. Amen.

Q. Why do you call God Our Father?

A. We call God our Father to recall to our remembrance that we are the children of God. Q. How are we the children of God?

A. We are the children of God, because he has created and adopted us.

Q. Then we have a double title to be called the children of God?

A. Yes, we have a double title to be called the children of God; we became his children when he gave us our existence, and when, by original sin, we had lost all claim to his inheritance, he again voluntarily restored that claim through the merits of Jesus Christ.

Q. Why do we say our Father, and not my Father?

A. We say our Father, to remind us that we are children of one family, and brethren in Jesus Christ.

Q. What does this relation require of us?

A. It requires of us that we should not pray for ourselves only, but for all others.

Q. Why do we say, Our Father, who art in Heaven: is not God everywhere?

A. Yes, God is everywhere; he is on earth, in hell, and in all places.

Q. Why, then, do you say who art in Heaven? A. We say who art in Heaven, because Heaven is the place where God displays himself to his children in all his glory, and renders them eternally happy.

Q. What do we pray for when we say, Hallowed be thy name?

A. We pray that God may be honoured, loved, and served, by all the world, and by ourselves in particular.

Q. What do we pray for when we say, Thy kingdom come?

A. We pray that God may reign in our hearts by his grace, and may bring us hereafter to reign with him in glory.

Q. What do we ask for by these words: "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven?"

A. We pray that God would enable us, by his grace, to do his will on earth with as much fidelity and love as the blessed do in Heaven.

Q. What is doing the will of God?

A. To do the will of God, is to obey him, and even to resign ourselves to afflictions when he pleases to send them.

Q. What ought to be our sentiments when God sends us afflictions?

A. We ought to be convinced that God is just, and that we deserve these afflictions; that he is

good, and that he sends them for our greater good.

Q. And what ought we to say on such occasions?

A. We must say when we are afflicted, "It is the will of God, may his will be done, may his name be praised."

Q. What do we ask for by these words, Give us this day our daily bread?

A. By these words, Give us this day our daily bread, we pray that God will continually give us all that is necessary for our souls and bodies.

Q. What do we pray for by these words: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us?

A. By these words we pray that God would forgive us our sins, as we forgive others the injuries they have done, or wish to do to us.

Q. Can those expect pardon from God who do not pardon others?

A. No, those who do not forgive others condemn themselves, since they only ask forgiveness of God on condition that they forgive others. Q. Why do we ask of God every day to forgive our offences?

A. Because we are constantly offending him, and not a day passes without our standing in need of forgiveness.

Q. What do we pray for when we say, Lead us not into temptation?

A. By these words we pray to God that he would remove temptations from us, or that he would give us grace to resist them.

Q. Why does God permit us to be tempted?

A. God permits us to be tempted to make us acquainted with our wretched condition, and to give us an opportunity of acquiring merit by resisting temptation.

Q. What do we pray for when we say, Deliver us from evil 3

A. By the words, deliver us from evil, we pray that God would free us from sin, from eternal damnation, and, in general, from all evils.

Q. When shall we be entirely freed from evil? A. We shall be entirely freed from evil, when we shall enjoy the happiness of the saints in eternal life.

Q. To ask for eternal life is, then, the object of the Lord's Prayer?

A. Yes, the object of the Lord's Prayer is to ask for eternal life: and to beg for grace to be obedient to the commandments of God, as the only means of obtaining that blissful life...

LESSON LXV.

ANGELICAL SALUTATION.-DEVOTION TO THE
BLESSED VIRGIN.

Q. What prayer are you accustomed to say after the Lord's Prayer?

A. After the Lord's Prayer we are accustomed to say the Angelical Salutation, a prayer which we address to the Blessed Virgin.

Q. Why, after addressing God, do you address the Blessed Virgin?

A. We address the Blessed Virgin in order that she may offer our prayers to God, and by praying for us, may secure his aid and assistance. Q. Repeat the Hail Mary in English.

A. Hail Mary, full of grace, our Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Q. Repeat it in Latin.

A. Ave Maria, gratia plena: Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora

pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostræ.

Amen.

* Q. Who spoke the words which constitute the Angelical Salutation?

A. These words, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women," were used by the Angel Gabriel.

* Q. On what occasion did the Angel Gabriel use these words?

A. The Angel Gabriel used these words when he saluted the Blessed Virgin, and announced to her that she would be the Mother of God: for this reason we call the Hail Mary the Angelical Salutation.

Q. Who spoke these words: "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb?"

A. These words were addressed to the Blessed Virgin by Saint Elizabeth, when the former visited the latter.

* Q. Who composed these words: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death?"

A. These words were composed by the Church, to ask of the Blessed Virgin to obtain for us of God, by her intercession, the pardon of our sins, the grace of a happy death, and to profess her belief, that the Blessed Virgin is truly the Mother of God.

Q. Why do you say that we ask the Blessed Virgin to obtain for us, and not to grant us favours?

A. I say to obtain and not to grant, because the Blessed Virgin is not the source of graces, she can only obtain them for us of God.

Q. What sentiments ought we to have towards the Blessed Virgin?

A. We ought to entertain for the Blessed Virgin, sentiments of profound respect, of great confidence, and filial love.

Q. Why ought we to have a profound respect for the Blessed Virgin?