313. What is necessary to enable us to keep the commandments?
To keep the commandments we need the grace of God, which is obtained chiefly by prayer and the sacraments.
314. What is prayer?
Prayer is a raising up of the mind and heart to God, to adore and praise Him, to thank Him for his favours, to beg his grace and blessings, and to obtain pardon of our sins.
315. When should we pray?
We should pray very often, but especially on Sundays and holy-days, every morning and every night, and in all dangers, temptations and afflictions.
316. How should we pray?
We should pray with a humble and contrite heart, with attention and perseverance, with confidence in God's goodness and resignation to his will, and in the name of Jesus Christ.
317. What prayers are most recommended to us?
The prayers most recommended to us are the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Apostles' Creed, the Confiteor, and acts of contrition, faith, hope and charity.
318. Who made the Our Father?
Our Lord Jesus Christ made the Our Father, and therefore it is called the Lord's Prayer.
319. Whom do we mean by Our Father when we say the Lord's Prayer?
By Our Father in the Lord's Prayer we mean Almighty God, who is the common Father of all.
320. What do we mean when we say hallowed be Thy name?
When we say hallowed be thy name, we pray that God's name may be praised and glorified.
321. What do we mean when we say thy kingdom come?
When we say thy kingdom come, we pray that God by his grace may reign in the hearts of all men in this life, and that they may reign for ever with Him in the next.
322. What do we mean when we say thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven?
When we say thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we pray that all men may obey God on earth as the angels and saints do in heaven.
323. What do we mean when we say give us this day our daily bread?
When we say give us this day our daily bread, we ask God for all things necessary and useful for soul and body.
324. What do we mean when we say forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us?
When we say forgive us our trespasses, we ask God to forgive us our offences against Him, as we forgive those who offend us.
325. What does Our Divine Lord say of those who will not forgive offences?
Our Divine Lord says: If you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences (Matt. vi, 15).
326. What do we mean when we say lead us not into temptation?
When we say lead us not into temptation, we ask God to preserve us from temptation, and to strengthen us in all our trials.
327. What do we mean when we say deliver us from evil?
When we say deliver us from evil, we ask God to keep us from all evil of soul and body, and particularly from sin.
328. Who made the Hail Mary?
The angel Gabriel and St. Elizabeth made the first part of the Hail Mary, and the Church made the second part.
329. Why do we so frequently repeat the Hail Mary?
We frequently repeat the Hail Mary to recall the mystery of the Incarnation, to honour the Mother of God, and to obtain her assistance, especially at the hour of death.
330. What is the Rosary?
The Rosary is a prayer in honour of the Blessed Virgin, in which we repeat in a fixed order the Our Father and Hail Mary, and meditate on the chief mysteries of the Redemption.
331. Does the Church recommend the Rosary?
Yes, the Church strongly recommends the Rosary and especially the practice of reciting it in common as the prayer of the christian family.
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