What do you think?
Rate this book
Our Father: Reflections on the Lord's Prayer
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Pope Francis illuminates the Lord’s Prayer, the most important prayer in all of Christianity, offering readers a guide to living a life of meaning, purpose and strength. In conversation with Father Marco Pozza, a theologian and prison chaplain in Padua, Italy, Pope Francis offers unprecedented insight into Jesus’s most profound words, as he explores the importance of embracing social justice, benevolence, and forgiveness in our hearts and minds. Looking to address the concerns and hopes of today’s men and women, Our Reflections on the Lord’s Prayer is a guide to living a life full of meaning, purpose, and strength. “We need courage to pray the Our Father,” writes Pope Francis, “to truly believe that God is the Father who accompanies us, forgives us, gives us bread, is attentive to all that we ask, clothes us even better than the flowers of the field. To believe is a big risk.” Challenging this doubt and fear, he issues a call to “dare . . . help oneanother to dare.”
With excerpts from some of the Pontiff’s most cherished teachings, this beautiful work offers words of encouragement and inspiration for all who are seeking hope and direction in our often tumultuous world.
113 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2017
209 people are currently reading
424 people want to read
About the author
Pope Francis
1,328 books998 followersPope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; Italian: Francesco; Spanish: Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) was the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, a title he held ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European pope since the Syrian Gregory III, who died in 741.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technologist and nightclub bouncer before beginning seminary studies. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979 was Argentina's provincial superior of the Society of Jesus. He was accused of handing two priests to the National Reorganization Process during the Dirty War, but the lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. He became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina, and the administrations of Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner considered him a political rival. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor on 13 March.
Throughout his public life, Pope Francis had been noted for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. He was credited with having a humble, less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors, for instance choosing to reside in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors. In addition, due to both his Jesuit and Ignatian aesthetic, he was known for favoring simpler vestments void of ornamentation, including refusing the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election, choosing silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, and keeping the same pectoral cross he had as Cardinal. He maintained that the church should be more open and welcoming. He did not support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology. Francis maintained the traditional views of the church regarding abortion, euthanasia, contraception, homosexuality, ordination of women, and priestly celibacy. He opposed consumerism, irresponsible development, and supported taking action on climate change, a focus of his papacy with the promulgation of Laudato si'. In international diplomacy, he helped to restore full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
June 8, 2018
Beautiful, spiritual book by Pope Francis explaining The Our Father (prayer) in depth. I believe it's a must read for all Catholics. 😊
June 13, 2018
A thoughtful, interesting look at the Lord's Prayer, what it means and what it says. There were many moments of insight into the intentions of the prayer.
My favorite parts were:
- the discussion on "father", it's role both as God the father and human fathers to their children, and the importance of a father figure.
- the discussion on the phrase "lead us not into temptation". According to Pope Francis this phrase is poorly translated and should read something like "do not let us fall into temptation". One infers that God leads us to sin, the other that with Him by our side, helping us, we can avoid sin.
There are many interesting ideas and thoughts in this small book. An interesting read.
My favorite parts were:
- the discussion on "father", it's role both as God the father and human fathers to their children, and the importance of a father figure.
- the discussion on the phrase "lead us not into temptation". According to Pope Francis this phrase is poorly translated and should read something like "do not let us fall into temptation". One infers that God leads us to sin, the other that with Him by our side, helping us, we can avoid sin.
There are many interesting ideas and thoughts in this small book. An interesting read.
April 5, 2018
I was very excited to read this book. I have read many terrific books about this prayer, especially Scott Hahn's Understanding the Our Father. But this book is a little different. This book is a conversation. The introduction states:
"In this book, a conversation with Fr. Marco Pozza, a priest and prison chaplain from Padua, Italy, the pope offers his heartfelt thoughts on the universal prayer for strength, mercy, and forgiveness.
To mark this special celebration, this book is supplemented with some of Pope Francis's most thoughtful meditations on the Lord's Prayer from throughout his papacy."
This book is part teaching, part reflection and part devotion. It was compiled from the conversations and with slight editing presented as a cohesive and easily approached and engaged work.
The chapters in this volume are:
A Note to Readers
Preface by Pope Francis: Pray to the Father
Our Father
"I Will Not Leave You Orphans"
Who Art in Heaven
Fathers and the Our Father
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Prayer in the Work of Salvation
Thy Kingdom Come
The Kingdom of God Needs Our Participation
Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven
Mary's Total "Yes" to the Will of God
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Feed the Hungry
And Forgive Us Our Trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us
Training for Giving and for Forgiveness
And Lead Us Not into Temptation
The Foundation of Our Hope
But Deliver Us from Evil
The Weeds Amid the Good Wheat
The Lord's Prayer
The Prayer of Grandparents Is a Treasure
Afterword by Marco Pozza: An Our Father Among the Imprisoned
I did really enjoy this book. But Wish it had been more in depth. The physical book is listed as 144 pages and the eBook edition as 113. But even with formatting that is generous. The book can easily be read in a single sitting. You could choose to read it in such a fashion or take each section and read them on consecutive days on daily devotions over three weeks. In the chapter Fathers and the Our Father, Pope Francis states:
"The first thing needed is this: that the father be present in the family. That he be close to his wife, to share everything, joys and sorrows, hardships and hopes. A father needs to be close to the children as they grow up; when they are playing and when they are working on a task; when they are carefree and when they are troubled. He needs to be there when they are outgoing and when they are withdrawn; when they are daring and when they are fearful; when they make a misstep and when they get back on track; the father must be present, always. Being present does not mean being in control! Because fathers who control too much are crushing their children, they are not letting them grow up."
This was one of the most impactful paragraphs. Especially when considering the afterwards and Marco Pozza's ministry in prisons, and the men there trying to turn around their lives.
Overall it was an enjoyable read and I am thankful that I read it. But comparing it to some of Pope Francis's other writings some of the themes are similar and will feel familiar. But still worth the read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!
"In this book, a conversation with Fr. Marco Pozza, a priest and prison chaplain from Padua, Italy, the pope offers his heartfelt thoughts on the universal prayer for strength, mercy, and forgiveness.
To mark this special celebration, this book is supplemented with some of Pope Francis's most thoughtful meditations on the Lord's Prayer from throughout his papacy."
This book is part teaching, part reflection and part devotion. It was compiled from the conversations and with slight editing presented as a cohesive and easily approached and engaged work.
The chapters in this volume are:
A Note to Readers
Preface by Pope Francis: Pray to the Father
Our Father
"I Will Not Leave You Orphans"
Who Art in Heaven
Fathers and the Our Father
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Prayer in the Work of Salvation
Thy Kingdom Come
The Kingdom of God Needs Our Participation
Thy Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven
Mary's Total "Yes" to the Will of God
Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread
Feed the Hungry
And Forgive Us Our Trespasses as We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us
Training for Giving and for Forgiveness
And Lead Us Not into Temptation
The Foundation of Our Hope
But Deliver Us from Evil
The Weeds Amid the Good Wheat
The Lord's Prayer
The Prayer of Grandparents Is a Treasure
Afterword by Marco Pozza: An Our Father Among the Imprisoned
I did really enjoy this book. But Wish it had been more in depth. The physical book is listed as 144 pages and the eBook edition as 113. But even with formatting that is generous. The book can easily be read in a single sitting. You could choose to read it in such a fashion or take each section and read them on consecutive days on daily devotions over three weeks. In the chapter Fathers and the Our Father, Pope Francis states:
"The first thing needed is this: that the father be present in the family. That he be close to his wife, to share everything, joys and sorrows, hardships and hopes. A father needs to be close to the children as they grow up; when they are playing and when they are working on a task; when they are carefree and when they are troubled. He needs to be there when they are outgoing and when they are withdrawn; when they are daring and when they are fearful; when they make a misstep and when they get back on track; the father must be present, always. Being present does not mean being in control! Because fathers who control too much are crushing their children, they are not letting them grow up."
This was one of the most impactful paragraphs. Especially when considering the afterwards and Marco Pozza's ministry in prisons, and the men there trying to turn around their lives.
Overall it was an enjoyable read and I am thankful that I read it. But comparing it to some of Pope Francis's other writings some of the themes are similar and will feel familiar. But still worth the read.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!
August 2, 2020
Short and beautiful book consisting of a conversation between a priest and the Pope where the Pope shares his insights on the Lord's Prayer. I loved his insight on "Our Father" (not just my father) - which leads us to recognize and love our brothers and sisters more as we approach God together.
September 29, 2022
The bulk of the content of this book is in the form of a conversation between Pope Francis and Father Marco Pozza, where the discussion centers around the "Our Father". Amidst the conversational texts are interspersed related portions from some of Pope Francis' general audiences and homilies. Fr. Pozza ministers to prisoners, and some portions deal with his conversations with some of the inmates.
I have always loved books dealing with this prayer. I have read many interpretations of the phrases contained within it. The books I have read were variously written by priests, monks, friars, nuns, sisters, saints, laypeople or popes. Although there are many different interpretations, they are also somehow complementary. They all contribute to the layers of meaning behind His Words.
Although not a huge fan of this type of written format, there were several sections that I particularly liked. One was Pope Francis' regarding the prayer's two-word opening, "our Father ". Not "our/my God", or "our/my Lord", but the more personal "Father", and "our" since we are all His children.
A second excellent entry in this book dealt with shame. He brought up three instances of shame from the New Testament: that of St. Peter, the good thief on the cross, and Judas. He compared their handling of the different aspects of guilt and shame. And he said something really beautiful that at first I was startled by, but then I felt inside that it was right: "Shame is a grace." (Pg. 84). Feeling shame for my sins is so much more preferable than being shameless!
Another favorite section dealt with the Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat. He addressed it all, from the impatient servants wanting to immediately pull up the weeds, the patient Master/Landowner, the enemy sowing weeds at night, (and the correlation between night and our distress/confusion), the field of our lives...I will stop here rather than drone on. I just really liked his simple yet thought-provoking words on this parable.
I would recommend this for those looking for additional viewpoints/meaning behind Our Lord's Prayer.
I have always loved books dealing with this prayer. I have read many interpretations of the phrases contained within it. The books I have read were variously written by priests, monks, friars, nuns, sisters, saints, laypeople or popes. Although there are many different interpretations, they are also somehow complementary. They all contribute to the layers of meaning behind His Words.
Although not a huge fan of this type of written format, there were several sections that I particularly liked. One was Pope Francis' regarding the prayer's two-word opening, "our Father ". Not "our/my God", or "our/my Lord", but the more personal "Father", and "our" since we are all His children.
A second excellent entry in this book dealt with shame. He brought up three instances of shame from the New Testament: that of St. Peter, the good thief on the cross, and Judas. He compared their handling of the different aspects of guilt and shame. And he said something really beautiful that at first I was startled by, but then I felt inside that it was right: "Shame is a grace." (Pg. 84). Feeling shame for my sins is so much more preferable than being shameless!
Another favorite section dealt with the Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat. He addressed it all, from the impatient servants wanting to immediately pull up the weeds, the patient Master/Landowner, the enemy sowing weeds at night, (and the correlation between night and our distress/confusion), the field of our lives...I will stop here rather than drone on. I just really liked his simple yet thought-provoking words on this parable.
I would recommend this for those looking for additional viewpoints/meaning behind Our Lord's Prayer.
September 27, 2019
I liked the book very much but have to admit that there were passages that I didn’t quite understand.
August 26, 2020
O livro Pai Nosso é um dialogo a respeito da oração do Pai Nosso entre o padre Marco Pozza com o Papa Francisco, onde ambos vão refletindo cada frase da oração.
Pai Nosso reflecte um Deus Pessoal e não um Deus Impessoal, que é forma perfeita das qualidades de pai, possui a autoridade moral, prepara seus filhos para liberdade e esta em constante dialogo com estes; e ele é "Nosso", que dizer que ele olha todos com olhar paternal, não deixando órfãos.
Que estais no ceús representa a grandiosidade do reino dos céus de Deus, e mesmo ele distante se tornou próximo e está próximo de todos.
Santificado seja vosso nome e aquele que segue Deus, deixa ser um instrumento dele para glorificar Seu nome através do bom exemplo, sempre dialogando com Aquele que tomou a frente e pagou por todos os pecados.
Venha nós a vosso reino onde um novo tempo começa com a vinda de Cristo e terá somente fim no Juizo Final, e podemos colaborar (diferença católica de protestante) com o projeto de Deus e frutificando com a palavra Dele.
Seja feita a vossa vontade que com sinceridade e abertura é possível fazer a vontade de Deus, é através do Não que Eva come o fruto da condenação e através do Sim de Maria que essa gera o fruto da vida.
O pão nosso de cada dia nós da hoje vê o pedido a Deus do pão físico para o sustento do corpo, e o pão espiritual através do sacramento da Eucaristia para o sustento da alma. E é dever de todo cristão colaborar para um mundo onde todos tenham agua e pão para o seu sustento.
Perdoai-nos as nossas ofensas, assim como nos perdoa a quem nos tem ofendido todo cristão tem que ter a consciência de ser um pecador perdoado, pois somente aquele que sente que já foi perdoado pode perdoar o outro como igual. A vergonha é uma graça e ela se manifestou nas três paixões de Cristo, Pedro envergonhado por ter negado a Jesus, o bom Ladrão por saber que Jesus era inocente ao contrario dele e o desespero (que é um forma de vergonha) de Judas quando viu o que tinha feito e não mas poderia voltar a trás.
E não deixei em cair em tentação e que Satanás fala através de sussurro, com o desabito de orações das atividades espirituais e profissionais, pois conforme o poete Léon Bloy: " Quem não reza a Deus, reza a Satanás".
Mas livrai-nos do Mal pois o Mal é força poderosa na qual não se deve ficar flertando, mas enfrenta-lo pois é a força diante do mal que que evidencia ainda mais as graças de Deus.
A oração do Pai Nosso é um pedido por pão,perdão e força contra a tentação, e nessa oração resume a vida cristã, pede-se a Deus para si aquilo que Jesus fez a todos, multiplicou o pão, perdoou todos os pecados e enfrentou Satanás.
October 21, 2019
Some of the beliefs are different than mine, but this was a beautiful reflection on the Lord's prayer.
Here were a few insights I especially liked:
*We don't begin a prayer with "Cosmic God" or "Almighty God" but with the words "Our Father" and these words should be spoken not just with our lips, but also our heart. God is the creator of our spirits.
*We have a Father who is close to us. He embraces us. I am not an only child, none of us are, and if I can't be a brother it's hard for me to truly be a son of this Father because He is father of us all.
*Jesus gave this prayer so we can discover who we are. Jesus shows us what it means to be loved by the Father and shows us that the Father pours out His love upon His children. So I hope that as we say "our Father" we feel bathed in love and hope, with the ability to love and forgive every brother and sister.
*Much of our society today is fatherless. Many children and teens feel like orphans. WE must be more mindful of this. The absence of a father figure produces wounds and gaps that are very grave. Much of the misbehaviors of children stem from the lack of love and guidance of a father. It is more profound than we think.
*"Hallowed be thy name" means we reverence and honor His name. We live like people who believe in God.
*"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." If a person does not feel like a forgiven sinner, he will never be able to perform an act of forgiveness. Only those who have been forgiven can forgive others. I can forgive because I have felt forgiveness. (This made me think that perhaps this is PART of the reason it is so important to forgive. As we forgive others, especially when they don't "deserve" forgiveness, it allows them to then be able to forgive as well. Not to mention that it frees us from the weight of carrying that anger/hurt/lack of forgiveness.)
*Read a little of the gospel, a little bit of the Bible, every day. That little action allows the kingdom of God to sprout within us."
*"What kind of yes can we give to God today?" We say "May your will for me be fulfilled." This is the yes we should give each day.
Here were a few insights I especially liked:
*We don't begin a prayer with "Cosmic God" or "Almighty God" but with the words "Our Father" and these words should be spoken not just with our lips, but also our heart. God is the creator of our spirits.
*We have a Father who is close to us. He embraces us. I am not an only child, none of us are, and if I can't be a brother it's hard for me to truly be a son of this Father because He is father of us all.
*Jesus gave this prayer so we can discover who we are. Jesus shows us what it means to be loved by the Father and shows us that the Father pours out His love upon His children. So I hope that as we say "our Father" we feel bathed in love and hope, with the ability to love and forgive every brother and sister.
*Much of our society today is fatherless. Many children and teens feel like orphans. WE must be more mindful of this. The absence of a father figure produces wounds and gaps that are very grave. Much of the misbehaviors of children stem from the lack of love and guidance of a father. It is more profound than we think.
*"Hallowed be thy name" means we reverence and honor His name. We live like people who believe in God.
*"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." If a person does not feel like a forgiven sinner, he will never be able to perform an act of forgiveness. Only those who have been forgiven can forgive others. I can forgive because I have felt forgiveness. (This made me think that perhaps this is PART of the reason it is so important to forgive. As we forgive others, especially when they don't "deserve" forgiveness, it allows them to then be able to forgive as well. Not to mention that it frees us from the weight of carrying that anger/hurt/lack of forgiveness.)
*Read a little of the gospel, a little bit of the Bible, every day. That little action allows the kingdom of God to sprout within us."
*"What kind of yes can we give to God today?" We say "May your will for me be fulfilled." This is the yes we should give each day.
February 14, 2025
True to his Jesuit roots, Pope Francis discusses the significance of The Lord's Prayer in terms of feeding the poor, mentioning the justice of water rights (Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread), confrontation with temptation ("no one can boast of being chaste if he has never been tempted" - which puts me in mind of Jimmy Carter's famous word clip of "adultery in the heart"); and deliverance from evil, which goes directly to the heart of Jesuit journeys of discernment. Francis has never departed from his initial life as a priest in Argentina as an advocate for the poorest and most discriminated against. His extrapolations of biblical text have an ecumenical tone, reflecting his constant outreach and interaction with others.
March 22, 2018
Disclaimer-I'm not Catholic but I am married to one.
I have much respect for Pope Francis so reading this small book was a no brainer. While I'm not a fan of the way the book is laid out I really enjoyed the content. The Holy Father shared stories of his youth, his thoughts & concerns for the world and made real world connections to parables and the Lords Prayer. Reading this was like an extra long homily 😊
I have much respect for Pope Francis so reading this small book was a no brainer. While I'm not a fan of the way the book is laid out I really enjoyed the content. The Holy Father shared stories of his youth, his thoughts & concerns for the world and made real world connections to parables and the Lords Prayer. Reading this was like an extra long homily 😊
April 12, 2020
I bought this thinking it will be a line by line review of the prayer. It is but there is a bit of circular talk that sounds more talking without saying something. Don’t forget the overuse of exclamation marks. The Beauty! The Joy!
When it got to the second half of the prayer about forgiveness and deliver us from evil, the book got good. That was a literal review of each line. It was a discussion of religion in a few tight pages.
When it got to the second half of the prayer about forgiveness and deliver us from evil, the book got good. That was a literal review of each line. It was a discussion of religion in a few tight pages.
April 21, 2025
A quick read that I could probably read countless times and get something new from it. We need to pray to our Heavenly Father, pray for our earthly fathers and pray especially for the holy Father. Pope Francis died today, may he rest in peace.
July 16, 2018
4 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
I am not religious, per se, but do believe there is a God. From what I have heard and seen about Pope Francis, I admire his beliefs and values. I know a little about the Lord's Prayer from elementary school and of course, books and reading! I am glad I read this book as it is great for mindfulness and also provides more reference to the prayer and Pope Francis.
(Review Not on Blog)
I am not religious, per se, but do believe there is a God. From what I have heard and seen about Pope Francis, I admire his beliefs and values. I know a little about the Lord's Prayer from elementary school and of course, books and reading! I am glad I read this book as it is great for mindfulness and also provides more reference to the prayer and Pope Francis.
December 1, 2024
Beautiful reflection on the Our Father prayer!
March 18, 2018
An okay reflection on one of the central prayers of Christianity. If one is familiar with other writings of Pope Francis, such as The Name of God is Mercy and Evangelii Gaudium, there are similarities within the text. It's a short read and can be done in one sitting. One will find Orthodox position on God and Satan from Pope Francis in this book.
February 17, 2020
This book is a conversation and perfect as an audiobook as it is more like a podcast. Its informal style is a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it is easy to listen to and follow along. A curse because it is not as theologically dense. If what you're wanting is a pleasant short audiobook with some added insight, this is an excellent choice.
November 29, 2023
Definitivno cu je ponovno pročitati. Prekrasna
July 25, 2018
“This is how you are to pray: Our Father…” The preface is MATTHEW 6:5-9, which was the basis of my confirmation sermon because, as a 14-year-old idealist, I was concerned with the hypocrisy I observed all around me. I had not learned yet that church is for us the imperfect, not the perfect.
In this beautiful little book, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, discusses The Lord’s Prayer, verse by verse, and peels back the profound and beautiful mysteries of each line. The pope reminds the reader of how deeply personal and intimate our relationship with God is, and how incomprehensible His love for us is. So many beautiful thoughts, among them: “God is not waiting for you to knock at his door; it is he who knocks at yours, unsettling your heart… Dios nos primerea.” (43)
I enjoyed the pope’s insights about some of the Bible’s most well-known parables, such as the weeds among the wheat, the tiny mustard seed, and the prodigal son/merciful father. Probably for the first time in my life, I feel I understand why the merciful father acted as he did in giving the son his inheritance early and then forgiving him so completely upon his return home -- he is our perfect Father.
One cannot help but to feel inspired by Pope Francis’s words about the Annunciation, the “great yes” when Mary gives herself entirely to God without hesitation, and how it is juxtaposed with the first no from Genesis. There is also the reminder of the gift of bread and the call to feed the hungry. He offers this clarification of the verse “lead us not into temptation” - offering the translation “do not abandon us to temptation” instead (94).
I especially enjoyed the last chapter, titled “The Prayer of Grandparents is a Treasure,” in which the pope quotes Olivier Clement: “...we need first of all the elderly who pray, because old age is given to us for this." To this, the pope adds: "We can intercede for the expectations of the new generations, and give dignity to the memory and sacrifices of those who have passed. We can remind ambitious young people that a life without love is a life of desolation. We can tell fearful young people that anguish about the future can be overcome… that there is more joy in giving than receiving.” (119)
Here’s my new quote to begin each day: “We all need to say, ‘I believe in You, I hope in You, I love You; may Your will for good be fulfilled in me.’ This is the ‘yes.’ With generosity and trust, like Mary, let us say today, each one of us, say ‘yes’ to God.” (72)
How much this beautiful tiny book has given me today! I have tears in my eyes! Thank you, Pope Francis!
In this beautiful little book, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, discusses The Lord’s Prayer, verse by verse, and peels back the profound and beautiful mysteries of each line. The pope reminds the reader of how deeply personal and intimate our relationship with God is, and how incomprehensible His love for us is. So many beautiful thoughts, among them: “God is not waiting for you to knock at his door; it is he who knocks at yours, unsettling your heart… Dios nos primerea.” (43)
I enjoyed the pope’s insights about some of the Bible’s most well-known parables, such as the weeds among the wheat, the tiny mustard seed, and the prodigal son/merciful father. Probably for the first time in my life, I feel I understand why the merciful father acted as he did in giving the son his inheritance early and then forgiving him so completely upon his return home -- he is our perfect Father.
One cannot help but to feel inspired by Pope Francis’s words about the Annunciation, the “great yes” when Mary gives herself entirely to God without hesitation, and how it is juxtaposed with the first no from Genesis. There is also the reminder of the gift of bread and the call to feed the hungry. He offers this clarification of the verse “lead us not into temptation” - offering the translation “do not abandon us to temptation” instead (94).
I especially enjoyed the last chapter, titled “The Prayer of Grandparents is a Treasure,” in which the pope quotes Olivier Clement: “...we need first of all the elderly who pray, because old age is given to us for this." To this, the pope adds: "We can intercede for the expectations of the new generations, and give dignity to the memory and sacrifices of those who have passed. We can remind ambitious young people that a life without love is a life of desolation. We can tell fearful young people that anguish about the future can be overcome… that there is more joy in giving than receiving.” (119)
Here’s my new quote to begin each day: “We all need to say, ‘I believe in You, I hope in You, I love You; may Your will for good be fulfilled in me.’ This is the ‘yes.’ With generosity and trust, like Mary, let us say today, each one of us, say ‘yes’ to God.” (72)
How much this beautiful tiny book has given me today! I have tears in my eyes! Thank you, Pope Francis!
March 15, 2018
This book was a really short read. It took me about an hour to read the entire thing. There were some interesting points that made what I have always called The Lord’s Prayer, seem a little deeper and I was able to put parts of it in a new context that I hadn’t previously thought about, but I didn’t gain as much as I had hoped for. I found myself confused more than inspired.
I am not a Catholic so some of the things were a bit different for me. As a Lutheran, I knew there would be some differences; I have attended Catholic churches for weddings and baptisms before so I thought I was prepared. As I mentioned before, we call it The Lord’s Prayer, Catholics call it the Our Father. That took some getting used to but wasn’t a big deal. Then he kept mentioning The Mother; I guess that is the church, but it’s foreign to me, so there were probably some points that I wasn’t able to understand based on not being familiar with the terminology.
The one thing that really bothered me was that this would be reading like a regular book, and then suddenly there would be a question being proposed to Pope Francis. There wasn’t any preamble to the question or mention of who was proposing the question; I got confused about who was actually “speaking” in the text I had been reading. There would also be paragraphs, or sections where a story was given apparently by the ghost writer, and Pope Francis then commented on the story, it was very confusing. The copy I have is an advance edition so I hope in the final they separate the parts for who is speaking, and clarify who it is. Nowhere in the title, on the book, Goodreads.com, or Amazon.com does it give another authors name, so when suddenly someone else started “speaking”, it was puzzling.
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*
I am not a Catholic so some of the things were a bit different for me. As a Lutheran, I knew there would be some differences; I have attended Catholic churches for weddings and baptisms before so I thought I was prepared. As I mentioned before, we call it The Lord’s Prayer, Catholics call it the Our Father. That took some getting used to but wasn’t a big deal. Then he kept mentioning The Mother; I guess that is the church, but it’s foreign to me, so there were probably some points that I wasn’t able to understand based on not being familiar with the terminology.
The one thing that really bothered me was that this would be reading like a regular book, and then suddenly there would be a question being proposed to Pope Francis. There wasn’t any preamble to the question or mention of who was proposing the question; I got confused about who was actually “speaking” in the text I had been reading. There would also be paragraphs, or sections where a story was given apparently by the ghost writer, and Pope Francis then commented on the story, it was very confusing. The copy I have is an advance edition so I hope in the final they separate the parts for who is speaking, and clarify who it is. Nowhere in the title, on the book, Goodreads.com, or Amazon.com does it give another authors name, so when suddenly someone else started “speaking”, it was puzzling.
*I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*
October 10, 2021
I've made it a point o include come catholic books in my reading list, so I can hear directly from authors from outside my tradition. I usually find a lot more agreement with protestant theology than I expect, and I like that, because we are all one church after all, Jesus does not have multiple "brides".
There's some wisdom to this book I can learn from, especially when talking about fatherhood and what it means that God is our father. But it is a bit disappointing when compared with other writings by Pope Francis I've read. That's probably because it's a transcript of an interview, not a written essay. One does have the impression the pope is very aware he speaks to the large audience of the catholic flock, and so he makes it a point to keep it practical and simple even when the interviewer is trying to get him into some of the more intellectual points of the Lord's prayer (such as the definition of heaven, the here and not-yet dichotomy of the kingdom of God, etc). But if that's the case, then the Pope and the Catholic Church speak a different gospel to the masses than they do in theological books. I find that the more academic a Catholic book is, the more I agree with it. While a down-to-earth book like this one too often goes to places that ring alarm bells for a protestant Christian: virginity of Mary, that fact that she was without sin when conceiving, that fact that our good deeds are a "conduit" for our faith (rather than a consequence of faith), and even surprising statements that really make me read twice such as "God cannot be God without man". What?.. Too much to call it heresy? Maybe.
And let's be clear: while God works undeniably in poverty and sometimes even through poverty, we should never make a virtue out of poverty. This book does, although not so much in the words of the pope, but the comments of the interviewer (himself a catholic minister). "Blessed are the poor", yes, but also "if you are a slave and have the opportunity to be free, take the opportunity".
Anyway some good ideas too, if you can separate them from the bad ones.
There's some wisdom to this book I can learn from, especially when talking about fatherhood and what it means that God is our father. But it is a bit disappointing when compared with other writings by Pope Francis I've read. That's probably because it's a transcript of an interview, not a written essay. One does have the impression the pope is very aware he speaks to the large audience of the catholic flock, and so he makes it a point to keep it practical and simple even when the interviewer is trying to get him into some of the more intellectual points of the Lord's prayer (such as the definition of heaven, the here and not-yet dichotomy of the kingdom of God, etc). But if that's the case, then the Pope and the Catholic Church speak a different gospel to the masses than they do in theological books. I find that the more academic a Catholic book is, the more I agree with it. While a down-to-earth book like this one too often goes to places that ring alarm bells for a protestant Christian: virginity of Mary, that fact that she was without sin when conceiving, that fact that our good deeds are a "conduit" for our faith (rather than a consequence of faith), and even surprising statements that really make me read twice such as "God cannot be God without man". What?.. Too much to call it heresy? Maybe.
And let's be clear: while God works undeniably in poverty and sometimes even through poverty, we should never make a virtue out of poverty. This book does, although not so much in the words of the pope, but the comments of the interviewer (himself a catholic minister). "Blessed are the poor", yes, but also "if you are a slave and have the opportunity to be free, take the opportunity".
Anyway some good ideas too, if you can separate them from the bad ones.
January 11, 2019
It's good to reflect on a prayer that one says all the time. This book is told as a conversation going over each line of the Lord's Prayer with personal stories and bible stories to help explain the meaning/thoughts behind the words.
Our Father: this section I had a little trouble with, I felt that the Pope spent more time comparing G-d to a human father. The comparison going this direction makes G-d too human, no matter how great of a human father a person has, the man is human and there will be mistakes made, hurts done, and growth as the man ages. I preferred comparing human fathers to G-d and having G-d be the goal for human fathers. I agreed with the understanding of Our and making Christianity and humanity a collective where I am not alone in my relationship with G-d, but I share my relationship with G-d with the others of my faith.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: I agreed with most of this part, but it is F*cking difficult to listen to the head of the Catholic Church use the parable of the weeds and wheat - kick priests who rape children out of the church, don't cover it up, don't talk about the souls they may have saved, kick them out of the church and stop trying to fight payment for the victims.
Our Father: this section I had a little trouble with, I felt that the Pope spent more time comparing G-d to a human father. The comparison going this direction makes G-d too human, no matter how great of a human father a person has, the man is human and there will be mistakes made, hurts done, and growth as the man ages. I preferred comparing human fathers to G-d and having G-d be the goal for human fathers. I agreed with the understanding of Our and making Christianity and humanity a collective where I am not alone in my relationship with G-d, but I share my relationship with G-d with the others of my faith.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: I agreed with most of this part, but it is F*cking difficult to listen to the head of the Catholic Church use the parable of the weeds and wheat - kick priests who rape children out of the church, don't cover it up, don't talk about the souls they may have saved, kick them out of the church and stop trying to fight payment for the victims.
October 14, 2018
Il “Padre nostro”: una preghiera così ampiamente nota e ripetuta, eppure sempre intima e nuova...
In questo libro ne viene scalfita l’apparente semplicità per scavare a fondo tra le pieghe dei suoi versi e in essi riscoprire l’abbraccio d’amore fra Dio e ognuno di noi.
Nel volume la preghiera viene divisa in 9 parti, a ciascuna delle quali sono dedicati due capitoli:
- un tratto dell’intervista di don Marco Pozza a Papa Francesco sul “Padre nostro”;
- uno stralcio tratto da qualche precedente discorso del Pontefice, in sintonia con quanto emerso nell’intervista.
Il dialogo tra i due ecclesiastici è genuino e intenso, e dalle loro parole si possono ricavare continui spunti di riflessione, talvolta inconsueti.
Infine, in una sezione a chiusura del volume, don Pozza parla della sua esperienza come prete fra i carcerati. Grazie allo Scoutismo e alla Provvidenza ho avuto l’onore di incontrare quell’Enrico che vi è nominato, e per questo ho percepito quelle pagine come ancor più vibranti e dense di significato.
Dal punto di vista della scrittura, il libro risulta un po’ slegato perché le varie parti non sono nate per stare assieme, ma in generale la lettura è abbastanza disinvolta, merito soprattutto dello stile sobrio.
Un testo senz’altro da leggere, adatto a qualsiasi fase della vita e della ricerca nella Fede.
In questo libro ne viene scalfita l’apparente semplicità per scavare a fondo tra le pieghe dei suoi versi e in essi riscoprire l’abbraccio d’amore fra Dio e ognuno di noi.
Nel volume la preghiera viene divisa in 9 parti, a ciascuna delle quali sono dedicati due capitoli:
- un tratto dell’intervista di don Marco Pozza a Papa Francesco sul “Padre nostro”;
- uno stralcio tratto da qualche precedente discorso del Pontefice, in sintonia con quanto emerso nell’intervista.
Il dialogo tra i due ecclesiastici è genuino e intenso, e dalle loro parole si possono ricavare continui spunti di riflessione, talvolta inconsueti.
Infine, in una sezione a chiusura del volume, don Pozza parla della sua esperienza come prete fra i carcerati. Grazie allo Scoutismo e alla Provvidenza ho avuto l’onore di incontrare quell’Enrico che vi è nominato, e per questo ho percepito quelle pagine come ancor più vibranti e dense di significato.
Dal punto di vista della scrittura, il libro risulta un po’ slegato perché le varie parti non sono nate per stare assieme, ma in generale la lettura è abbastanza disinvolta, merito soprattutto dello stile sobrio.
Un testo senz’altro da leggere, adatto a qualsiasi fase della vita e della ricerca nella Fede.
August 23, 2018
I loved this book, so much so that I read it in one sitting (don't worry, it's very short!)
This book is essentially the transcript of an interview that Pope Francis did on Italian television with Father Marco Pozza where they discussed the Lord's Prayer. In between each chapter were added selected reflections from the Holy Father (drawn from General Audiences, Homilies, etc.) on topics related to the petitions of the Our Father.
The Holy Father's insights here are really tremendous at times. Most notable, his reflections on the sickness of spiritual orphanhood and the influence of absentee fathers in today's world, the important of the very first word of the Lord's Prayer - Our - and how it impacts the way we view our community around us as brothers and sisters, and on the 'yeses' we give to God when we pray Thy Kingdom Come.
Highly recommend this book for a day-retreat or a weekend of reflection on the Lord's Prayer.
Thank you Pope Francis.
This book is essentially the transcript of an interview that Pope Francis did on Italian television with Father Marco Pozza where they discussed the Lord's Prayer. In between each chapter were added selected reflections from the Holy Father (drawn from General Audiences, Homilies, etc.) on topics related to the petitions of the Our Father.
The Holy Father's insights here are really tremendous at times. Most notable, his reflections on the sickness of spiritual orphanhood and the influence of absentee fathers in today's world, the important of the very first word of the Lord's Prayer - Our - and how it impacts the way we view our community around us as brothers and sisters, and on the 'yeses' we give to God when we pray Thy Kingdom Come.
Highly recommend this book for a day-retreat or a weekend of reflection on the Lord's Prayer.
Thank you Pope Francis.
May 21, 2024
Feels weird to give the pope man 3 stars but here we are. If you’ve studied the Lord’s Prayer before, then I don’t think this will offer much more. At the same time, the simplicity is the book’s strengths. It it short, encouraging, counter cultural & has a couple points Protestants will raise their eyebrows at.
Particularly great are Francis’ thoughts on forgiveness, how God’s daily mercy & grace weave the days of our lives into something more purposeful & beautiful. What might our families & friends look like if we had the faith to believe & receive our Father’s forgiveness?
He also makes a fascinating comment that fascism begins when people stop caring and oh boy do I have bad news. I won’t get on a soapbox here, but our current trajectory of insisting on human rights or really any virtue without a moral center or foundation doesn’t seem viable or healthy.
I also liked how the conversation reframed shame as a pathway to wholeness if God’s victory & love are real.
Particularly great are Francis’ thoughts on forgiveness, how God’s daily mercy & grace weave the days of our lives into something more purposeful & beautiful. What might our families & friends look like if we had the faith to believe & receive our Father’s forgiveness?
He also makes a fascinating comment that fascism begins when people stop caring and oh boy do I have bad news. I won’t get on a soapbox here, but our current trajectory of insisting on human rights or really any virtue without a moral center or foundation doesn’t seem viable or healthy.
I also liked how the conversation reframed shame as a pathway to wholeness if God’s victory & love are real.
December 24, 2024
For Advent, I decided to pick up a more religiously explicit book and landed on this.
A slim book containing a conversation between Fr. Polazza, a prison chaplain, and the current pope is interspersed with some writings from the Holy Father on the central prayer of Christianity. What comes across is the deep compassion both men have for humanity.
Some particular things that stood out are Pope Francis quoting Pope Benedict the XVI about the imperative to feed the hungry and how he relates the prodigal son to mysticism- that it is impossible to understand. He also points out Medieval carving in the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene includes a post-suicide Judas being raised out by the Good Shepherd, lest people accuse his liberal theology as new.
Worth reflecting on and short. Prison chaplains (along with many other guidance-based professions), having so much contact with the prison system myself, are sorely needed.
A slim book containing a conversation between Fr. Polazza, a prison chaplain, and the current pope is interspersed with some writings from the Holy Father on the central prayer of Christianity. What comes across is the deep compassion both men have for humanity.
Some particular things that stood out are Pope Francis quoting Pope Benedict the XVI about the imperative to feed the hungry and how he relates the prodigal son to mysticism- that it is impossible to understand. He also points out Medieval carving in the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene includes a post-suicide Judas being raised out by the Good Shepherd, lest people accuse his liberal theology as new.
Worth reflecting on and short. Prison chaplains (along with many other guidance-based professions), having so much contact with the prison system myself, are sorely needed.
May 24, 2019
The pretext of this book is an interview of Pope Francis conducted by Father Marco Pozza, a prison chaplain. The topic was the Pater Noster. This part of the book is in dialogue format, and contains some inner thoughts or reflections of Fr Marco. Fr Marco sounds almost inordinately deferent. The tone is very Catholic. Its values are strikingly traditional. Interspersed are snippets of Pope Francis's homilies given between 2013 and 2017. At the end there is an epilogue by Fr Marco himself on his interactions with his prison parishioners. Some are gently moving. The book gives the reader some insights to the inner workings of the minds of these two Catholic priests. Non-believers may find it wanting. In having said that, there are certainly some gems to reflect upon. The deep faiths possessed by these two priests also show. Overall it is a bit brief and slightly light. Three stars.
November 19, 2022
Pope Francisco really said fatherless behavior, the lot of you. I mean he also called hitting your children respectfully (avoiding the face) beautiful and admirable so I don’t know how much authority I prescribe to a man like that. I will say however that Francisco’s Liberation theology and interest in the suffering of the poor is admirable even though it comes of as a holier than though attitude. I mean he is the Pope so I guess that’s warranted🤷🏼♀️
The only thing that really touched me (in a non catholic priest way) was the word of a former inmate that Marco spoke to
“When you are in hell, the biggest temptation is the will to make yourself deserving of heaven.”
It’s definitely an interesting take.
The only thing that really touched me (in a non catholic priest way) was the word of a former inmate that Marco spoke to
“When you are in hell, the biggest temptation is the will to make yourself deserving of heaven.”
It’s definitely an interesting take.
July 25, 2018
Inspirational ideas wonderfully expressed in a conversation between a prison chaplain and Pope Francis. Among my favorite passages:
Prayer ...purifies the heart. Praise and supplication to God keep the heart from becoming hardened by resentment and selfishness.
...the Eternal City welcomes me with a piece of graffiti scrawled on a viaduct wall, "Without the foundation, forget about the heights."
...a plaster figurine of a sleeping St. Joseph. This is his favorite image of the carpenter who, alone of all people, can boast that he had God as his shop boy.
Prayer ...purifies the heart. Praise and supplication to God keep the heart from becoming hardened by resentment and selfishness.
...the Eternal City welcomes me with a piece of graffiti scrawled on a viaduct wall, "Without the foundation, forget about the heights."
...a plaster figurine of a sleeping St. Joseph. This is his favorite image of the carpenter who, alone of all people, can boast that he had God as his shop boy.
July 31, 2018
What a beautiful and thoughtful reflection on the Lord’s Prayer. I’ve had the Lord’s Prayer committed to memory since I was quite young, but I haven’t thought deeply about the meaning of each word. Several phrases were very confusing to me, ex. “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Pope Francis clearly explains why God chose each word of this simple prayer for his followers, giving them a path to dialogue with God that is less intimidating. The Lord’s Prayer means so much more to me now. Every Christian should read this book.
October 21, 2018
This wonderful book brought a few new insights into the Our Father as well as present some that seemed like old friends. It is not a book to just read through like it were a novel. It is to be read slowly, giving time for reflection. How do you grow in understanding without taking the time for reflection?
Yes, Pope Francis repeats himself. That is just his way of adding emphasis. I can just hear his gentle voice when I read his works. It is always a pleasure to read his works. He understands me.
Yes, Pope Francis repeats himself. That is just his way of adding emphasis. I can just hear his gentle voice when I read his works. It is always a pleasure to read his works. He understands me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews