Blog Post 10-18-2024 The Our Father & the Sign of the Cross

 

Yesterday, October 17, 2024, I offered this Opening Prayer and Reflection on the Sign of the Cross and the Our Father to OLPH’s Religious Education Classes. Jesus taught His disciples and us, the Our Father this prayer is special because it was given to us by our Savior. In early Church, the Sign of the Cross and the Our Father were foundational prayers.

We can pray “In the name of …...” anytime, but, when we enter Church and use the Holy Water, we are reminded of our Baptism. At our Baptism, the priest or deacon began with the Sign of the Cross and during the celebration he blessed you with his thumb on your forehead with the sign of the cross, then invited your parents and God parents to do the same.

He then poured water over you and said, “I baptize in the name of ….”  Later in the Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism0 he signed your ears and lips with his thumb & prayed “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the mute speak. May He soon touch your ears to receive His Word and your mouth to proclaim His faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.”  Amen.

When we pray Morning & Evening Prayer we begin with the sign of the cross, but we pray: “God, come to my assistance – Lord make haste to help me.”

During Morning Prayer we offer the Canticle of Zachariah and pray it starting with the sign of the cross, as we say, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free ….”  [Luke 1:68-79]

In Evening Prayer, we offer the Canticle of Mary and make the sign of the cross, but we pray, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” [Luke 1:46-55]

Jesus gave us the Our Father and as we pray, we remember that God comes first:

1.     Hallowed be Your name.

2.     Your kingdom come.

3.     Your will be done.

As we continue praying the Our Father next come our petitions:

4.     Give us today our daily bread.

5.     Forgive us our trespasses.

6.     Lead us not into temptation.

7.     But deliver us from evil.

The Our Father [the Lord's Prayer] is considered the prayer of the Church par excellence and it is integral to the liturgical life of the Church, it is prayed at Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, anytime.  Mrs. Kohler [the Director of our R.E.P. program] offered our petitions, and I offered the final Blessing.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you. May God shine His light upon you. And may you follow the Lord our God each day of your life. Amen.

In the name of the Father …. Amen.

 

May God Be Blessed.