It has been expressed to me by several protestant friends that:
Catholics don’t even pray the Our Father as the Bible has taught, therefore THEY are NOT following Biblical teachings and MUST be evil people.
Me thinks it is commonly accepted that evil – mistaken – misguided – or confused persons can be found within ALL “denominations” of Christianity. (in fact it is why Jesus gave us “Christianity” in the first place) Therefore, this old man will take a stab at explaining the quirk that has confused some, where the praying of this most cherished of Prayers is concerned.
Being the Roman Catholic Church has been around for longer than many other denominations, we often find it necessary to look back in an effort to really understand why things are the way they are in the present time…This is only common sense and is true in many facets of life and possibly a reason many of us find the “searching” too much of a task and decide to just go right ahead and reinvent the wheel .. although, even after much effort and turmoil, our new invention usually looks much like a wheel …
In around the year 400 AD (approximately 1000 years before the Reformation) … the Bible as we know it …. was “put together” from writings of many humans … and these writings were agreed upon by those humans that were respected by the other humans of the time (and by the grace of God are still today) to be “Authorities” ordained by heaven with the keen insight (or gift (s) of discernment) to declare (or bind) which writings were suitable for their followers to follow, in that these writings were “inspired” by God.
By this time in history the Gospel (Good News of the life of Jesus ) was being introduced and accepted from country to country (throughout the known world) and really needed to be tightened up, because as you could imagine (just as today) … when many nations, and even well meaning “authorities”, start interjecting their own traditions, their own interpretations, there own “human element” into something that is NOT theirs alone, things can get a little loose.
The original purpose for this collection of inspired writings was for that of A UNIVERSAL TEACHING ..To be used in (what later became know as) the CANON so that each “Church” (which at the time were ALL believers in Jesus the Christ, only NOT fully united within a Format or Liturgy, thereby seemingly scattered ) will be using the SAME inspired teachings.
The goal, of the hierarchy, was that the Churches would all be of the same heart and would truly become universal. (and is a foremost meaning of “Catholic“)
So it was time for this acceptance or rejection of which writings (and teachings) were fitting for usage in (or during) a “Mass”.
ONE POINT that could NOT be excluded from these, sought after, writings were words written within that were known to have come from those teachers that had personal contact with Jesus Himself.
Trusted quotations of His Words seemed to be the Jewels these “fathers of our faith” were looking for.
They certainly found those words far more precious then all of the other treasures of the known world, in these words from the Sacred Heart of Our Savior, as He gave instruction to His disciples and all of mankind by allowing them to overhear such an intense moment of truth….
When Jesus first said out loud:
“OUR FATHER WHOM 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 THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US, AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATIONS BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL, FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY NOW AND FOREVER”
But why then do Catholics insist on removing such a precious group of divinely arranged words from a prayer given to them by God Himself … It would certainly seem to be a deliberate act of mutiny to not admit that the Kingdom and Power and Glory Belongs to The Father…..but is it??
BUT IT IS NOT when You see the Larger picture…although certainly a understandable statement as in MOST flaws that are being pointed out by someone that may be less then kind when looking at something they don’t like, and especially when there is a taint of truth (or perceived Divine righteousness feeling) to the accusation.
AS FOLLOWS:
1). As stated earlier the original gathering of Inspired Writings was (and is) for usage within the Canon and as with any “Christian liturgy” the overall attempt is to Beckon, Honor and Worship The Triune God. Uniting with or serving God and the people by bring the hearts of the each human participant closer to their Creator ..
2). For that very reason of Unity, the Words of the “Our Father” (in its entirety) ARE utilized within the Roman Catholic Liturgy of the Mass WORLDWIDE and Every Day…
2a). Although as with much “recitation” of Scripture within ALL “Liturgies and Worship Service Formats” (of all known Christian Denominations) ADDITIONAL Charismatic statements (pleas – prayers) are placed within and are done so to remind the (one hour a week) worshiper of probable common needs that they may have and to excite that heart into becoming more than a one hour a week lover of God….This may even be where the “Protestant” translation of scripture came from in the first place. (see link in 4a)
3). Within the Liturgy of the Roman Catholic Mass, during the portion known as “the canon”, one of these “charismatic” utterances is present and is prayed during The Lords Prayer as follows: “Our Father whom art in Heaven…….AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATIONS BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL “and Grant us Peace in our days. In Your Mercy and Love keep us free from sin and shelter us from all anxiety, as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of Our Savior, Your Son, Jesus The Christ FOR THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY ARE YOURS NOW AND FOREVER …. AMEN”
4). AS well as, the words of the Our Father “in its entirety” are only found in “some” English translations of Our Lords Prayer and “only” in the book of Matthew 6th Chapter, but never in the book Luke 11th Chapter…and there is no mention of these words within the old Douay Rheims 1899 English Version, nor the New International Version in either Matthew 6 or Luke 11.
4a). So if you are really interested in GETTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS… follow this link and you may be surprised as many are, ( 8 verses of the Our Father from 4 Bible translations )
Would any of us like to be so bold as to go to heaven and face to face call St. Luke “mutinous”. Or for that matter tell the translators of the NIV or the Douay Rheims Version that they have error.
So here comes the chastise:
It would seem that “WE” (humans in general) have gotten so lazy (and so many of us are the one hour a week type worshipers) THAT when we are away from the “Liturgy” we simply want to “get those prayers said” and get back to sinning (or earthly desires) just a quickly as we can .. and it’s not just the Roman Catholics., (many of whom have never read a King James “Protestant” Version of the Bible out of respect for their parents teachings or the need to obey God by Honoring their Father and Mother. A Father and Mother who told them from a young age to never read that “Protestant Bible” because “those protestants don’t know scripture and certainly don’t understand the concept of “Charismatic Prayer” )…
My suggestion is (If You happen to be Roman Catholic) take a lesson from Your Protestant Brothers and Sisters .. and when “praying” the Our Father in private (and even within the privacy of the Family) go right ahead and “quote” Jesus in this Prayer of all Prayers in its entirety., (Which if it wasn’t really a quote from Our Lords Teaching that day, one would have to consider it a very well designed “Charismatic Prayer” that has been around long enough to be “Traditional” ) …. (but “quote” Him from your Heart for then Yours is like unto His) and at other times ..(such as within the “Praying of the Rosary” – Novenas – Benedictions – and so many other Traditional times when this Scripture is prayed ).. don’t feel guilty. but be thankful that Your Traditions have stood the test of time ….
And if You are of a (Protestant Faith Following) and have had those thoughts that “Catholics” are “from the devil”, because of “this” or maybe other “traditions” they hold dear to heart.. You may wish to do a little online(or other) research and not be so quick to judge fellow Lovers of Your Same God (for then your Heart is like unto His) … and You will find that these “Traditions” of “Yours and Theirs” have much in common…..for with God All Things Are Possible ..