What we gather of our father
The Scholar's Meditation on 'Our Father'
The Master asks the Scholar to explain the Lord's Prayer part by part, and the Scholar responds by meditating on the meaning of 'Our Father who art in heaven' as a ground for confident prayer.
Master. So, please explain each part to me separately, in a few words.1 Scholar. When I say, "Our Father who art in heaven," this is what I think to myself: it cannot be otherwise than that he must hear me and be pleased with my prayers. For I am his Son (though unprofitable and disobedient), and he, on the other side, is my most bountiful Father, most ready to take pity on me and pardon me.
Read the original English
Mast. Therefore declare vn to me, in fewe woordes, eche parte by it selfe.
Scholer. When I say oure father which art in heauē: thys do I thincke with my selfe: that it canne not be but that he must heare me, and be pleased wyth my praiers For I am hys Sonne (although vnprofitable & disobedient) and he on the other side is my moste bountyfull father, moste readye to take pity and pardon me.
Notes
- 1 ↩Source 'vn to' read as Early Modern 'unto' (declare unto me).
John Ponet's Short Catechisme (1553) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit