About the Mass Series Communion Rite Part 9

7. ‘As we forgive those who trespass against us’

Jesus clearly laid down a condition for our forgiveness- namely that our debts be forgiven insofar as we forgive our debtors.  There are many parables and sayings of Jesus that emphasize this truth.  If we hope for forgiveness from God (we can’t presume such a gift), we must be ready to forgive others.  This petition also reminds us that we need to be united and at peace with our neighbour through forgiving those ‘who trespass against us’.

From the historical viewpoint, it is interesting to observe that the earliest noting of the ‘Our Father being included in the Eucharistic Prayer was through the writings of St. Ambrose around 397.

In the Eastern Churches, the ‘Our Father’ was recited by the whole congregation, whereas in Rome, at the time of St Gregory (604), it was considered a presidential prayer, and therefore only recited by the priest alone. The Spanish original custom was for the priest to sing ‘Our Father’ alone, and the congregation ratified each request through the acclamation Amen.

Musically over the centuries, there have been many different versions composed, some more liturgically sound than others in construction.  Over the span of time the ‘plainchant Our Father’ has, and still does serve its purpose of leading people beyond themselves into prayer.  The text needs to be thorough, musically assessable, and preferably beautiful.  This version remains in our Church heritage, is assessable to even the ‘un-churched’, and is sung all over the world. Hearing it sung in other languages brought home to me the universality of the prayer itself and the unity of the universal Church.