Hallowed Be Thy Name
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Immersion into the Mystery (2807-2808)
"To hallow" does not seek to cause God to be holy but recognizes that God is holy (a prayer of adoration). These words begin our immersion into God's innermost mystery and the drama of salvation. "Hallowed be thy name" draws us into God's loving kindness, so we might "be holy and blameless before him in love" (Eph 1:4). God reveals his name by accomplishing. His work is done in us only if his name is hallowed.
Glory of Holiness (2809)
God's holiness is his inaccessible center. Scripture uses the word "glory" to mean the revealing of this holiness. God crowned man "with glory and honor" but, by sin, man fell "short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). Since then, God has manifested his holiness by revealing his name.
Revealing His Name (2810-2812)
God did not reveal his name when he made a Covenant with Abraham. Gradually he revealed his name to Moses and made his name known clearly when he "triumphed gloriously" over the Egyptians (Ex 15:1). From the Sinai Covenant, they became "his own" people, a "holy (consecrated) nation" (Ex 19:5-6) because his name dwelled with Israel.
Even though God commanded the Israelites to "be holy, for I am holy" and showed patience to them, the people profaned his name among the nations. Therefore, the returned exiles and Old Testament prophets burned passionately for his name.
In Jesus, God's name is the heart of the priestly prayer. "For their sake, I consecrate myself, that they also might be consecrated in truth" (Jn 17:11-19). Having sanctified his own name, Jesus reveals the Father's name. The Father gives Jesus a name above every other name "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:9-11).
The Nations Called to Holiness (2813-2815)
In Baptism, we were sanctified in Jesus' name and the Father called us to total holiness. "We ask that we who were sanctified in Baptism may persevere in what we have begun to be, for we need sanctification daily" (St. Cyprian).
His name being holy among the nations depends on our life and prayer. "We ask that this name be hallowed through our actions. For God's name is blessed when we live well and is blasphemed when we live wickedly (St. Peter Chrysologus). "We ask that his name be hallowed in us and also in others for his precept obliges us to pray for every one, even our enemies" (Tertullian).
This first petition is fulfilled in Christ's priestly prayer, "Holy Father, protect in your name those whom you have given me" (Jn 17:11).
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