The Essentials of the Catholic Faith,Part 4:Lord,Teach Us To Pray,3rd Petition:“Thy Will Be Done..."

TheRealPresence.org ^ | 2002 | Pocket Catholic Catechism

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Part Four:

Lord, Teach Us To Pray

Third Petition:

“

Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven”

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Table of Contents    

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This petition is an epitome of Christianity and a synthesis of our whole purpose for existence.

Why do we have a free will? In order to do the will of God. Unlike the irrational creation that surrounds us, we can choose either to conform our wills to God or refuse to do so.

The scope of this petition is the prayer that human beings on earth might do God’s will as the angels and saints are doing in heaven. We therefore ask that everyone on earth may do God’s will, even as everyone in heaven does. There are no exceptions in heaven. We pray that there will be fewer and fewer exceptions in doing God’s will on earth.

We further ask that, as in heaven, people may do God’s will out of love and not through fear. In heaven there is no danger of not doing God’s will, and therefore no fear of the consequences.

We further pray that we on earth, like those in heaven, may do God’s will spontaneously. We ask that the divine will be done without hesitation, with no aversion or reluctance. On earth we know how slow we can be in responding to the known will of God. Our plea is to become more ready to fulfill the will of God the moment we know what He wants.

We also pray to do God’s will with selfless generosity. There is no envy in heaven among the elect, because they see others also doing God’s will. There is no jealousy but perfect cooperation in performing the divine will, not only individually but collectively.

We finally pray that, as in heaven, those on earth may enjoy doing the will of God. There is a mysterious relationship between our doing what pleases God, and God’s doing what pleases us. In heaven everyone does only what pleases God. He, in turn, does everything to please the elect. They are supremely happy. Why? Because they are perfectly conformed to the will of the Most High. We pray to discover, already on earth, a foretaste of the joys of heaven, reserved for those who do the divine will. In fact, the measure of true happiness this side of heaven is the degree of our fidelity in doing the divine will.

Copyright © 2002 Inter Mirifica

Pocket Catholic Catechism

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Actual Title: The Essentials of the Catholic Faith,Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, Third Petition: “ Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven”

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The Essentials of the Catholic Faith (Introduction)
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed, The Basic Profession of Faith
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part 1: The Apostles’ Creed, “I Believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth"
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part 1: The Apostles’ Creed: “And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles' Creed: “ Who Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary”

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed: “Suffered Under Pontius Pilate, was Crucified, Died, and was Buried”
The Esstentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostle's Creed: He Descended into Hell. On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed: “He Ascended into Heaven, and is Seated at the Right Hand of God, The Father Almighty”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part 1: The Apostles’ Creed: “From Thence He Shall Come to Judge the Living and the Dead”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part 1: The Apostles’ Creed, “ I Believe in the Holy Spirit”

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith,Part 1: Apostles’ Creed: "The Holy CatholicChurch: The Communion of Saints”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed: “The Forgiveness of Sins”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed: “The Resurrection of the Body”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part One: The Apostles’ Creed: “Life Everlasting”

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Two: Channels of Grace, The Sacraments
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Two: Channels of Grace, Baptism
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Two: Channels of Grace, Confirmation
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Two: Channels of Grace: The Eucharist
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Two: Channels of Grace, Penance

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Two: Channels of Grace, Anointing of the Sick
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Two: Channels of Grace, Holy Orders

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, Christian Morality
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, The Ten Commandments
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, First Commandment
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, Second Commandment
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, Third Commandment

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, Fourth Commandment
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, Fifth Commandment
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, Sixth and Ninth Commandments
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Three: The Will of God, Seventh and Tenth Commandments
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith; Part Three: The Will of God, Eighth Commandment

The Essentials of the Catholic Faith. Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, The Lord’s Prayer
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, The Invocation: Our Father, Who Art in Heaven”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray;First Petition:“Hallowed...Name”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith, Part Four: Lord,Teach Us To Pray, Second Petition: “Thy Kingdom Come”
The Essentials of the Catholic Faith,Part Four: Lord, Teach Us To Pray, Third Petition: “Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven"

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Bump for faith study. Most informative.