Catechesis: Fourth Petition of the Our Father

When you mention and pray for daily bread, you pray for everything that is necessary in order to have and enjoy daily bread. On the other hand you pray against everything that interferes with it.—LC III:72

In short, this petition applies both to the household and to the neighborly or civil relationship and government.—LC III:73

There is, indeed, the greatest need to pray for earthly authority and government. By them, most of all, God preserves for us our daily bread and all the comforts of this life.—LC III:74

[Satan] also prevents and hinders the stability of all government and honorable, peaceable relations on earth. There he causes so much contention, murder, treason, and war.—LC III:80

He wishes that we pray for these goods in order that we may recognize that we receive them from His hand and may feel His fatherly goodness toward us in them.—LC III:83