Prayer is “the raising of the soul to God” and “asking for what is fitting” from Him — the interior life of the believer, where the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). The Lord's Prayer is not printed in full here; please use the approved missal or Sacred Scripture.
The Catechism Part Four presents the forms of prayer (contemplation, petition, thanksgiving, praise) and explains each petition in the Lord's Prayer — the model prayer that Jesus himself taught.
Jesus teaches the Lord's Prayer in the Sermon on the Mount: beginning with hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, then daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from temptation — the entire Matthew 6:9–13 (and the parallel passage Luke 11:2–4) should be read in its entirety in the approved Sacred Scripture, not replaced by lengthy quotations on the web.
Compare with the original
Parishes usually pray according to the liturgical text; this article only mentions the structure of the petitions.
Practical Application
Sites like the Vatican and reputable online catechetical programs encourage regular prayer: the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary, Sacred Scripture, and silence before the face of God.
Part Four of the Catechism: Nature and Petitions
The Catechism Part Four defines prayer as 'the raising of the mind and heart to God' and 'asking for what is fitting' (cf. §2558–2565), and presents the forms: contemplation, petition, thanksgiving, praise. The explanation of the Lord's Prayer goes through each petition — from 'hallowed be your name' to 'deliver us from evil' — to show that the entire Christian life is organized around the Kingdom, God's will, and daily bread (including its sacramental meaning). Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:1–4 are therefore not merely texts to memorize but a framework for forming the soul in communion with the Son of God, who teaches us to call God 'Father'. Romans 8:26 on the Spirit's intercession is echoed in the CCC passages on silence and contemplation — avoiding turning prayer into self-persuasion of God or magical formulas.
