What is the Pater Noster?
The Pater Noster — the Our Father, or Lord's Prayer — is the prayer Christ Himself taught His disciples when they asked Him how to pray. It is found in the Gospel according to St. Matthew (6:9–13) and, in shorter form, in St. Luke (11:2–4). The Catechism calls it 'truly the summary of the whole gospel,' for in seven petitions it contains everything we are to desire and ask of our Father in heaven.
When is the Pater Noster prayed in the Mass?
Within the Roman Rite, the Our Father is prayed near the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer, immediately preparing the faithful to receive Holy Communion. The priest invites the people to pray it together, and the entire congregation joins in — the only prayer of the Mass given to us word-for-word by Our Lord.
Why pray the Our Father in Latin?
Latin is the official liturgical language of the Roman Rite, and the Pater Noster has been prayed in this form by the Western Church for some sixteen centuries. Praying it in Latin unites the faithful to that long communion of saints, to the Church across borders and ages, and to the Mass as it is offered in every land. It is also a fitting devotional discipline: praying slowly in Latin sharpens our attention to each petition.
What does 'Pater Noster' mean?
Pater Noster simply means 'Our Father' — the first two words of the prayer in Latin. From the earliest Christian centuries the Church has named her prayers by their opening words (their incipit), so this prayer is known the world over by its Latin opening.
Are there seven petitions in the Pater Noster?
Yes. The first three petitions concern the glory of God — His name, His kingdom, His will — and the last four concern our needs: our daily bread, the forgiveness of sins, deliverance from temptation, and freedom from evil. The traditional teaching of the Fathers is that these seven petitions correspond to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and to the Beatitudes.
