tanding_, by which the clean of
heart are blessed, let us pray that we may not have a double
heart that pursues after temporal things whence temptations come
to us. If we have _wisdom_, whence the peace-makers are
blessed--for they shall be called the sons of God--let us pray
that we may be delivered from evil, for that very deliverance
will make us the free sons of God."

4. Again, according to S. Luke,[184] there are only five petitions in
the Lord's Prayer. Hence it would seem superfluous to have seven in S.
Matthew.

But, as S. Augustine says[185]: "S. Luke only includes five
petitions and not seven in the Lord's Prayer, for he shows that
the third petition is, in a sense, only a repetition of the two
preceding ones; by omitting it he makes us see that God's will
is more especially concerned with our knowledge of His sanctity
and with our reigning with Him. But Luke has omitted Matthew's
last petition, _Deliver us from evil_, in order to show us that
we are delivered from evil just precisely as we are not led into
temptation."

5. And lastly, it seems idle to try to stir up the benevolence of one
who is beforehand with his benevolence. But God does forestall us with
His benevolence, for _He hath first loved us_.[186] Consequently it
seems superfluous to preface our petitions with the words _Our Father
Who art in Heaven_, words which seem intended to stir up God's
benevolence.

But we must remember that prayer is not directed to God in order
to prevail upon Him, but in order to excite ourselves to
confidence in our petitions. And this confidence is especially
excited in us by consideration of His love towards us whereby He
wishes us well, wherefore we say, _Our Father_; and of His
pre-eminent power whereby He is able to assist us, whence we
say, _Who art in Heaven_.

* * * * *

_Cajetan:_ The first three petitions of the _Lord's Prayer_ can also be
referred to that which we principally desire, so that all three regard
mainly that love wherewith we love God in Himself, and secondarily that
love wherewith we love ourselves in God. And the proof of this is that
in each of the first three we have the pronoun _Thine_, but in the last
four the pronoun _our_. Thus the first petition asks for the effective
and enduring praise of God's Name; the second, that He--and not the
devil, nor the world, nor