Catechesis: Our Father

Indeed, the greatest need of all is to pray for the civil authorities and the government, for it is chiefly through them that provides us our daily bread and all the comforts of this life. Although we have received from God all good things in abundance, we cannot retain any of them or enjoy them in security and happiness were he not to give us a stable, peaceful government. For where dissension, strife, and war prevail, there daily bread is already taken away or greatly reduced.—LC III:74

How much trouble is now in the world simply on account of false coinage, yes, on account of daily exploitation and usury in public business, commerce, and labor on the part of those who wantonly oppress the poor and deprive them of their daily bread! This we must put up with, of course; but let those who do these things beware lest they loose the common intercession of the church, and let them take care lest this petition of the Lord’s Prayer be turned against them.—LC III:84

He has reserved to himself this prerogative: those who boast of their goodness and despise others should examine themselves and put this petition uppermost in their minds. They will find that they are no more righteous than anyone else, and in the presence of God all people must fall on their knees and be glad that we can come to forgiveness. Let none think they will ever in this life reach the point where they do not need this forgiveness. In shortly, unless God constantly forgives, we are lost.—LC III:90, 91