# The dedication of Saint Mary Major Basilica and meditations on the Our Father
*2020-08-04*

> Bill Young reflects on the beauty of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome and shares a deep theological meditation on the petitions of the Lord's Prayer.

## Visiting Saint Mary Major

Today is August 5th, the feast day celebrating the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. This church was first raised by the order of Pope Liberius in the mid-fourth century and later rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III after the Council of Ephesus affirmed Mary's title as Mother of God.

I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful basilica during the week of Mother Teresa's canonization. I was traveling with a tour group from Australia—a bit of a long story, but I believe they heard my podcast and invited me along. During that week, we visited the four major basilicas, and the one dedicated to Mary was truly stunning.

## The First Three Petitions: God's Glory

In my prayer book, there is a beautiful meditation by the Holy Church on the Our Father. The first three requests of the prayer concern the glory of the Father: the sanctification of His name, the coming of His kingdom, and the accomplishment of the divine will.

When we pray 'Hallowed be thy name,' we enter into God's design for humanity, asking that His name be revealed in every nation and every person. 'Thy kingdom come' is both a focus on the final return of Christ and a plea for the growth of God's kingdom in our daily lives. Finally, 'Thy will be done' is a request for our own wills to be united with that of the Son, so that we may realize His plan of salvation for the world.

## The Final Petitions: Our Human Needs

The remaining four requests focus on how our lives are nourished, healed from sin, and protected in the battle between good and evil. 'Give us this day our daily bread' refers to both the earthly nourishment we need to survive and the Bread of Life—the Word of God and the Body of Christ—which sustains us for the eternal banquet of the kingdom.

'Forgive us our trespasses' implores God's mercy, but it reminds us that if we have not forgiven our enemies, these words cannot truly reach our hearts. 'Lead us not into temptation' is a plea for the spirit of discernment and the fortitude to avoid the path to sin. Lastly, 'Deliver us from evil' asks God to manifest the victory already achieved by Christ over Satan and the prince of this world.

## Reflections on the Fatherhood of God

When we call Him 'Our Father,' we acknowledge that He has given us everything. While an earthly father loves us, our Heavenly Father loves us even more. He does not get angry in the way humans do; He offers only love. In return, we must respect and glorify His name.

We must realize that our own earthly kingdoms are destined to end, while His kingdom is eternal. We pray that our hearts may be as open and respectful as the angels are in heaven. We ask for the bread of the soul today, and we pray for the grace to forgive others in the same measure that we wish to be forgiven by God.

*By breaking down the Our Father, we see that the prayer is a complete roadmap for aligning our human needs and wills with the eternal glory and plan of God.*