The Lord's Prayer: A Survey Theological and Literary

Nicholas Ayo

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, Nov 27, 2002 - Religion - 272 pages

Throughout the history of Christendom, the Lord's Prayer has held a special place of honor. Nicholas Ayo's The Lord's Prayer presents a carefully detailed exposition of the Our Father as a text worthy of inspiring both mind and heart.

Ayo's approach combines a word-by-word biblical and exegetical study and includes an anthology of patristic and modern commentary on the Lord's Prayer, drawn from Origen, Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila, and Simone Weil, among others. In addition, he provides historical analysis, critical evaluation, and discussion of the deeper issues raised by the various interpretations of the Lord's Prayer. Finally, Ayo includes a personal meditation on the overall significance of this unique prayer in the spiritual life.

The Lord's Prayer offers wisdom and meditative reflections valuable for study/classroom groups, as well as the individual seeking spiritual reading. It is a treasure for students of theology and spirituality, containing an invaluable analysis of Greek, Latin, and modern language versions of the Lord's Prayer, along with a bibliography of patristic commentaries and books in English. In short, this book is a definitive study of the exemplary prayer of the gospel.

Contents

• OUR FATHER: 19
• WHO ART IN HEAVEN: 27
• HALLOWED BE THY NAME: 29
• THY KINGDOM COME: 35
• THY WILL BE DONE: 39
• ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN: 43
• THE THOUPETITIONS: 47
• The WePetitions: 49
• GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD: 51
• FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES: 67
• AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US: 75
• LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION: 83
• BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL: 87
• THE WEPETITIONS: 93
• THE THOU AND WEPETITIONS COMPARED: 99
• Other Commentary: 103
• INTRODUCTION: 105
• CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE: 111
• GREGORY OF NYSSA: 119
• MAXIMUS THE CONFESSOR: 125
• THOMAS AQUINAS THE THIRD PETITION: 133
• ORIGEN: 139
• TERESA OF AVILA: 151
• SIMONE WEIL: 159
• AUGUSTINE: 163
• ALFRED DELP: 169
• LEONARDO BOFF: 173
• In Conclusion: 185
• THE LORDS PRAYER IN THE LITURGY: 187
• THE ESCHATOLOGICAL AND THE EVERYDAY: 193
• FINAL WORDS: 199
• APPENDIX: 205
• NOTES: 238
• BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PATRISTIC COMMENTARY IN ENGLISH ON THE LORDS PRAYER: 246

About the author

Nicholas Ayo, C.S.C. teaches theology and literature in the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame. He is the author of The Sermon-Conferences of St. Thomas Aquinas on the Apostles' Creed (1988) and The Creed As Symbol (1989).

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Lord's Prayer: A Survey Theological and Literary
• Author: Nicholas Ayo
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, 2002
• ISBN: 0742514536, 9780742514539
• Length: 272 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Biblical Studies / New Testament / General; Religion / Christian Living / Prayer; Religion / Christian Rituals & Practice / General; Religion / Christian Rituals & Practice / Worship & Liturgy; Religion / Christianity / History; Religion / General; Religion / Prayerbooks / Christian; Religion / Reference