The Our Father, also known as the Lord's Prayer, is the prayer Jesus Christ himself taught his disciples. Found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, it is considered the summary of the whole Gospel. The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls it "the most perfect of prayers," a foundational daily prayer for all Christians.
The Our Father originates directly from Jesus Christ in the 1st century, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. The Church has cherished it as the "Lord's Prayer" since apostolic times. The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes it is "truly the summary of the whole Gospel" (CCC 2761). The version used in the Roman Missal for the Mass is taken from Matthew's account, forming a central part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Our Father is a model for all prayer. The Catechism explains its structure: the first part glorifies God the Father, while the seven petitions that follow present our most fundamental needs to Him (CCC 2763). We ask for His kingdom to come and His will to be done, then petition for our daily bread, the forgiveness of our sins, and deliverance from evil. It expresses our total dependence on God as His beloved children and shapes our hearts to desire what He desires.
The Our Father is a universal prayer suitable for any time. It holds a privileged place in the Mass, prayed after the Eucharistic Prayer and before the Sign of Peace. It is also a foundational part of the Liturgy of the Hours and is prayed on every decade of the Rosary. Many Catholics begin and end their day with the Lord's Prayer, offering it for any and all intentions, making it a constant spiritual touchstone throughout the day.
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