THE LORD'S PRAYER AND THE SEVEN LAST WORDS
During the 1930s and '40s, Fulton Sheen was the featured speaker on The Catholic Hour radio broadcast, and millions of listeners heard his radio addresses each week. His topics ranged from politics and the economy to philosophy and man's eternal pursuit of happiness.
Along with his weekly radio program, Sheen wrote dozens of books and pamphlets. One can safely say that through his writings, thousands of people changed their perspective about God and the Church.
Possessing a burning zeal to dispel the myths about Our Lord and His Church, Sheen gave a series of powerful presentations on Christ's Passion and His seven last words from the Cross. As a Scripture scholar, Archbishop Sheen knew full well the power contained in preaching Christ crucified. With St. Paul, he could say, "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2).
During his last recorded Good Friday address in 1979, Archbishop Sheen spoke of having given this type of reflection on the subject of Christ's seven last words from the Cross "for the fifty-eighth consecutive time." Whether from the young priest in Peoria, Illinois, the university professor in Washington, D.C., or the bishop in New York, Sheen's messages were sure to make an indelible mark on his listeners.
Given their importance and the impact they had on society, it seemed appropriate to reintroduce a number of these reflections from 1933 and 1935 on the Seven Last Words and The Lord's Prayer.
Fulton Sheen wrote:
Our Lord is the only King who ever stumbled to His throne. But that was because He is God, and God reveals His Power through the weakness of a crucifixion and His Wisdom through the foolishness of a cross.
What message will the King deliver from His unkingly throne? Last words are always important but particularly the last words of Him Who gave His Life for the redemption of many! It will be recalled that one day, the Apostles approached Him saying: "Lord, teach us to pray." He answered their request by giving them the perfect prayer: the Our Father. Now the time comes for Him to say His own "Our Father." As there were seven petitions in the "Our Father" He taught us, so there are seven petitions in His own last prayer. They are known as the Seven Last Words. We shall meditate conjointly on our "Our Father," and His "Our Father."
Our Father Who art in heaven. / Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Hallowed be Thy Name. / Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.
Thy Kingdom Come. / Woman, behold thy son.
Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. / My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Give us this day our daily bread. / I thirst.
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. / It is consummated.
Deliver us from all evil. Amen. / Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
The Lord's Prayer and the Seven Last Words have been referred to as "Two Bridges Connecting Heaven and Earth". In the pages that will follow, Archbishop Sheen will help us to understand this in a more deep and meaningful way.
