Praying As Jesus Taught Us

I found a paraphrase of the “Our Father” given by St. Francis of Assisi.

Our Father — most holy, Creator and Redeemer, Savior and Comforter.

Who art in heaven — in the angels and saints; You give them light so they may have knowledge; You, O Lord of Light, inflame them so they may live; You, O Lord of Love, live continuously in them and fill them so they may be happy; You, O Lord, are the supreme good, the eternal good, and it is from You that all good comes, and without You no good is.

Hallowed be Thy name — may our knowledge of You become ever clearer, so we realize the extent of Your benefits, the steadfastness of Your promises, the sublimity of Your majesty, and the depths of Your judgments.

Your Kingdom come — so You may reign in us by Your grace and bring us to Your kingdom where we shall see You clearly, love You perfectly, be blessed in Your company, and enjoy You forever.

Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven — so we may love You with our whole heart by always thinking of You; with our whole mind by directing our whole intention toward You and seeking Your glory in all things; and with all our strength by spending all our powers and affections of soul and body in the service of Your love alone; and may we love our neighbors as ourselves, encouraging them to love You as best we can; rejoicing at their good fortunes as if it were our own; and sympathizing with their misfortunes, while giving offense to no one.

Give us this day our daily bread — that is, Your own beloved Son, our Lord Jesus, to remind us of the love He showed for us and to help us understand and appreciate it and everything He did or said or suffered.

And forgive us our debts — in Your infinite mercy, and by the power of the passion of Your Son, together with the merits and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all Your saints.

As we forgive those who have debts against us — and if we do not forgive perfectly, Lord, make us forgive perfectly, so we may indeed love our enemies for love of You, and pray fervently to You for them, returning no one evil for evil, anxious to serve everybody in You.

And lead us not into trials and temptations — hidden or obvious, sudden or unforeseen; deliver us from all evils, past, present, and to come.

Amen — So be it.