We must diligently and devoutly obey the Commandments, and receive the Sacraments.  The light of faith should lead us and hope should draw us heavenward, the love of God and of our neighbors must fill our hearts.  He who possesses these virtues is indeed in possession of all other virtues.  Love is the bond of perfection, for who so loves God and his neighbor has fulfilled the law.  We should make a good intention the first thing in the morning, and renew it frequently throughout the day.  This certainly is not difficult.  St. Paul exhorts us urgently to make this good intention in the words:  “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you do; do all things for the glory of God” (I Cor. x, 31)

To make this good intention, the “Glory be to the Father” is especially appropriate.  If we utter the same frequently and devoutly we shall makes our lives a continual praising and glorifying of God, a perpetual prayer.  Glory be to the Father, who has created us; to the Son, who has redeemed us; and to the Holy Ghost, who sanctifies us.  Glory be to the Holy Trinity through all our thoughts, words and works, as glory was to God in the beginning, when He created heaven and earth, as now, and so too through all eternity in heaven.  Yes, we will glorify God here below with the militant Church, so that we may be worthy to behold Him one day with the triumphant Church, and to praise Him in blissful rapture for all eternity!  Amen.

VII.  THE EXCELLENCE OF THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE ROSARY

(d) The “Our Father"

 “Lord, teach us to pray.”—­Luke xi, I.

Dear Brethren:  The holiest, the most beautiful and most perfect, and for this reason the most efficient prayer is the “Our Father.”

This prayer comes from Our Lord himself, who gave it to His disciples when they urged that He should teach them how to pray.  The “Our Father,” therefore, had its origin with God himself, and, therefore, is the holiest of prayers.  It is a petition to His heavenly Father, composed by the God-man and bequeathed to us, His brethren.  In this petition is contained everything we may ask for.  Tertullian says in his writings that the “Our Father” contains not merely the things for which man ought to ask God, but also everything the Lord has taught and ordained, so that the whole Christian doctrine is briefly contained therein.  The separate petitions are arranged according to their importance, and follow one another in a most appropriate way.  Therefore, the “Our Father” is according to its origin, as also according to its contents and its form, the perfect prayer.

The divine Saviour promised that everything we ask of our Father in heaven He will give us.  When we recite the “Our Father” we not merely pray in the name of Jesus, but in His own words.  Hence the Lord’s Prayer is to God the most pleasing prayer, and for that reason the most efficient and powerful of prayers.  It is evident from the history of the Church that the Lord’s Prayer has, at all times been held by the faithful in the highest esteem.  It was used, as the fathers tell us, not only in public, but also in private devotions.