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Shorter Catechism
St Philaret of Moscow, in Blackmore, 1845
Chapter 3
Q. How may the Lord’s Prayer be divided?
A. Into the preface, seven petitions, and the doxology.
Q. What is the preface?
A. Our Father which art in heaven.
Q. Why has Jesus Christ commanded us to call upon God by the name of Father?
A. To this end: that we should stand before God in prayer not only with fear, as servants before their Lord, but also with love and hope, as children before their Father.
Q. What is the first petition of the Lord’s Prayer?
A. Hallowed be Thy Name.
Q. What ask we hereby of God?
A. We ask His help, that His holy Name may be hallowed both in our hearts and on our lips; also that by our holy deeds and lives we may contribute to spread His glory among men.
Q. What is the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer?
A. Thy Kingdom come.
Q. What ask we hereby of God?
A. We ask His help, that sin reign not in us, but that the Spirit of God may lead us to good and happiness.
Q. What is the third petition of the Lord’s Prayer?
A. Thy will be done, as in heaven so also on earth.
Q. What ask we hereby?
A. In this petition we offer the sacrifice of our will to God, and ask Him to do with us as seemeth Him good of His wisdom; likewise that all men may be brought to obey His will on earth, even as it is obeyed perfectly by the Angels in heaven.
Q. What is the fourth petition of the Lord’s Prayer?
A. Give us this day our bread for subsistence.
Q. What ask we hereby?
A. We ask God, of His good providence to give us what is necessary for us to subsist, as food, clothes, lodging; and we ask this for to-day only, without further care for the future, because such care would be inconsistent with trust in God.
Q. What is the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer?
A. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
Q. What ask we hereby?
A. We ask God to forgive us our sins, as we also forgive them that have sinned against us, or wronged us.
Q. But what if we do not forgive others?
A. Then we can expect no forgiveness ourselves of God; and so it is absolutely necessary to forgive injuries, and strive to be at peace with all men.
Q. What is the sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer?
A. And lead us not into temptation.
Q. What ask we hereby?
A. We ask God not to suffer the devil to deceive us in any wise, or draw us into sin.
Q. What is the seventh petition of the Lord’s Prayer?
A. But deliver us from evil.
Q. What ask we hereby?
A. We ask God to deliver us from all evil and misery.
Q. What is the doxology after the Lord’s Prayer?
A. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Q. Why is this added after the Lord’s Prayer?
A. That he who prays, may not only ask mercies for himself from the almighty and all-ruling God, but also offer Him that glory which is His by right.
Q. What meaneth the word, Amen?
A. It is a word of religious affirmation. It means, Verily, or So be it.