Catechism of the Catholic Church

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2784 The free gift of adoption requires on our part continual conversion and new life. Praying to our Father should develop in us two fundamental dispositions: First, the desire to become like him: though created in his image, we are restored to his likeness by grace; and we must respond to this grace.

We must remember . . . and know that when we call God "our Father" we ought to behave as sons of God. ³⁸ You cannot call the God of all kindness your Father if you preserve a cruel and inhuman heart; for in this case you no longer have in you the marks of the heavenly Father's kindness. ³⁹ We must contemplate the beauty of the Father without ceasing and adorn our own souls accordingly. ⁴⁰

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PART FOUR: CHRISTIAN PRAYER

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SECTION TWO: THE LORD'S PRAYER: "OUR FATHER!"

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ARTICLE 2: OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN"

Notes for the above paragraph:

38 St. Cyprian, De Dom. orat. 11 PL 4:526B.

39 St. John Chrysostom, De orat Dom. 3: PG 51, 44.

40 St. Gregory Of Nyssa, De orat. Dom. 2: PG 44, 1148B.

English Translation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.

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