515. “Abba! Father!”

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 515

Ave Maria series

Where do we get the confidence to call God “Father”?

We can be so bold as to address God as Father because Jesus has called us to a close relationship with himself and made us children of God.  In communion with him, “who is in the bosom of the Father” (John 1:18), we are privileged to cry “Abba, Father!”  [2777-2778, 2797-2800]  37

Transfiguration by Carl Heinrich Bloch 1834-1890. …..515

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship.  When we cry “Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”  Romans 8:15

 [2777-2778, 2797-2800]  

“OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN"

"WE DARE TO SAY"

2777 In the Roman liturgy, the Eucharistic assembly is invited to pray to our heavenly Father with filial boldness; the Eastern liturgies develop and use similar expressions: "dare in all confidence," "make us worthy of. . . . " From the burning bush Moses heard a voice saying to him, "Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."²⁶ Only Jesus could cross that threshold of the divine holiness, for "when he had made purification for sins," he brought us into the Father's presence: "Here am I, and the children God has given me."²⁷ --Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

26. Exodus 3:5.

27. Hebrews 1:3; Heb 2:13.

Our awareness of our status as slaves would make us sink into the ground and our earthly condition would dissolve into dust, if the authority of our Father himself and the Spirit of his Son had not impelled us to this cry . . . 'Abba, Father!' . . . When would a mortal dare call God 'Father,' if man's innermost being were not animated by power from on high?"²⁸  --CCC

28  St. Peter Chrysologus, Sermo 71,3:Patrologia Latina 52,401CD; compare Galatians 4:6.

2778 This power of the Spirit who introduces us to the Lord's Prayer is expressed in the liturgies of East and of West by the beautiful, characteristically Christian expression: parrhesia, straightforward simplicity, filial trust, joyous assurance, humble boldness, the certainty of being loved.²⁹ –CCC

29. Compare Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 3:6; Heb 4:16; Heb 10:19; 1 John 2:28; Jn 3:21; Jn 5:14.

IN BRIEF

2797 Simple and faithful trust, humble and joyous assurance are the proper dispositions for one who prays the Our Father. --CCC

2798 We can invoke God as "Father" because the Son of God made man has revealed him to us. In this Son, through Baptism, we are incorporated and adopted as sons of God. --CCC

2799 The Lord's Prayer brings us into communion with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. At the same time it reveals us to ourselves (compare Gaudium et Spes 22 § 1). --CCC

2800 Praying to our Father should develop in us the will to become like him and foster in us a humble and trusting heart. –CCC

JT  Transfiguration by Carl Heinrich Bloch