How to Memorize the Our Father for Life

The Our Father is the most fundamental prayer in Catholicism as it contains the basic aspects of how we are to pray. Christ responded to his disciples call to teach them how to pray in the Gospels of Matthew 6:9-13, and Luke 11:2-4 by teaching them the Our Father (also known as the Lord's Prayer) as an example. The traditional words of the Our Father used by most Christians is the version found in Matthew's Gospel.

Things You'll Need
Notebook
Pencil

Step 1
Read the Lord's prayer out loud slowly five times. "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen"

Step 2
Say the phrase "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." slowly ten times. Using the notebook and pencil write each word of the phrase down as you reciting it audibly.

Step 3
Close your eyes and try to recall the phrase from memory. Once you can recall the phrase reread the prayer to put the phrase in context.

Step 4
Say the phrase "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. " slowly ten times. Using the notebook and pencil write each word of the phrase down as you reciting it audibly. Repeat the instructions presented in Step 3.

Step 5
Say the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread;" slowly ten times. Using the notebook and pencil write each word of the phrase down as you reciting it audibly. Repeat the instructions presented in Step 3.

Step 6
Say the phrase "and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us". slowly ten times. Using the notebook and pencil write each word of the phrase down as you reciting it audibly. Repeat the instructions presented in Step 3.

Step 7
Say the phrase "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil ". slowly ten times. Using the notebook and pencil write each word of the phrase down as you reciting it audibly. Repeat the instructions presented in Step 3.

Step 8
Say the phrase "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen" slowly ten times. Using the notebook and pencil write each word of the phrase down as you reciting it audibly. Repeat the instructions presented in Step 3.

Step 9
Recite the Lord's prayer from memory. If you are unable to recite the prayer from memory repeat steps 1-7 until the prayer is memorized.

Tips

• To learn the prayer in chanting tones pause for each comma.
• Focus on one aspect of the prayer at a time until you know it by memory.
• When asking another for help with learning the Our Father keep in mind that the prayer is also known as the Lord's Prayer.

Reference
John Place Online: How to Memorize Anything

Prayer Guide: The Traditional Lord's Prayer

New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia: History of The Lord's Prayer

Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Lord's Prayer

Resource

All About Prayer: Devotion Based on Christ's Model The Lord's Prayer

Lords Prayer Words: Traditional King James Version

Orthodox Prayer: The Lord's Prayer

Convent of Pater Noster: The Lord's Prayer in 1662 Languages and Dialects