Chapter 5 — That God, from whom we beg the object of our hope in prayer, ought to be called “Our Father” and not “My Father”

He who looks on himself as a son of God, ought, among other things, to imitate our Lord especially in his love, as we are urged to do in Ephesians 5:1–2: Be, therefore, followers of God as most dear children, and walk in love. God’s love is not restricted to any individual, but embraces all in common; for God loves all things that are, as is said in Wisdom 11:25. Most of all he loves men, according to Deuteronomy 33:3: He loved the people. Consequently, in Cyprian’s words, our prayer is public and is offered for all; and when we pray, we do not pray for one person alone, but for the whole people, because we are all together one people. (Liber de oratione dominica, VIII) Or, as Chrysostom says, Necessity forces us to pray for ourselves, but fraternal charity impels us to pray for others. (Pseudo-Chrysostom, In Evangelium Matthaei, hom. XIV.) This is why we say Our Father, and not simply My Father.

At the same time we should remember that, although our hope rests chiefly on God’s help, we can aid one another to obtain more easily what we ask for. St. Paul says, in 2 Corinthians 1:10–11: God will deliver us, and with you helping in prayer for us. And in James 5:16 we are exhorted: Pray one for another, that you may be saved. For, as Ambrose reminds us, Many insignificant people, when they are gathered together and are of one mind, become powerful, and the prayers of many cannot but be heard. (Ambrosiaster, In epistolam ad Romanos, XV.) This agrees with Matthew 18:19: If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. Therefore, we do not pour forth our prayers as individuals, but with unanimous accord we cry out, Our Father.

Let us also reflect that our hope reaches up to God through Christ, according to Romans 5:1–2: Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. Through him who is the only-begotten Son of God by nature, we are made adopted sons: God sent forth his Son . . . so that we might receive adoption as sons, as is said in Galatians 4:4–5. Hence, in acknowledging that God is our Father, we should do so in such a way that the prerogative of the Only-begotten is not disparaged. In this connection Augustine admonishes us: Do not make any exclusive claims for yourself. In a special sense, God is the Father of Christ alone, and is the Father of all the rest of us in common. For the Father begot him alone, but created us. (Really Ambrose, de Sacramentis, V. 19.) This, then, is why we say: Our Father.