Our Father Who Art in Heaven: Full Prayer, Bible Verse & Guide

Whether you grew up with it tacked onto the end of every meal or discovered it later in life, the prayer that begins “Our Father, who art in heaven” carries a quiet weight that most other words don’t. It shows up in Sunday Mass, in the Rosary, in bedtime routines passed down through generations—and for Catholics, it anchors something deeper than habit.

Origin: Matthew 6:9-13 · Traditional Wording: Our Father, who art in heaven · Key Versions: Catholic, Protestant · Length: 66 words

This table summarizes key attributes of the prayer as used across Catholic and Protestant traditions.

What is the full prayer of our father who art in heaven?

Traditional Catholic version

The complete text that Catholics know begins with the opening address “Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” (Liturgy Archive) The petition “Give us this day our daily bread” follows, building toward the closing doxology that Protestant versions typically omit: “For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever.” This final line, called the doxology, was added to Catholic liturgy as an official conclusion to the prayer.

The 66-word structure follows a clear arc: address, three petitions about God’s name, kingdom, and will, then three requests centered on human need—daily bread, forgiveness, and protection from temptation. St. Patricks Guild notes that this prayer frames every Catholic prayer time, whether prayed alone at a bedside or aloud in a packed church.

Protestant differences

Protestant traditions typically conclude after “deliver us from evil,” without the Catholic doxology. Some Protestant hymnals include the doxology but treat it as optional or congregational. The core wording remains consistent across denominations—what differs is whether the closing amplification is included in official bulletin texts.

What Bible verse is Our Father Who Art in Heaven?

Matthew 6:9-13 context

Jesus delivered this prayer as part of his Sermon on the Mount, specifically when instructing his disciples about how not to pray like the Gentiles—babbling on with empty repetitions. Liturgy Archive records that he gave the prayer as a template: “Pray then in this way.” The structure models priorities—God’s name, kingdom, and will come first; human needs follow. This ordering has shaped Catholic prayer practice for two millennia.

Luke 11 parallel

A shorter version appears in Luke 11:2-4, where a disciple asks Jesus to teach them to pray and receives the same basic framework. Scholars note the Lucan version is more condensed, missing several petitions present in Matthew. Catholic liturgy draws primarily from the Matthew version, which contains the fuller articulation that most English speakers recognize today.

Why do Catholics touch their forehead, lips, and chest?

Sign of the Cross explanation

The gesture involves touching the forehead, then the chest (over the heart), then the left and right shoulders in sequence while saying: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” St. Patricks Guild explains this sacramental act reminds Catholics of their baptism and the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Sign of the Cross marks every prayer time in Catholic life, framing the opening and closing of conversation with God.

The physical motion traces the shape of the cross on one’s body, signifying belief in Christ’s sacrifice. Parents often make the Sign of the Cross on their children’s foreheads at bedtime, saying “May God bless you and keep you safe through the night,” a practice that extends the sacramental gesture into family rituals (St. Patricks Guild).

Gesture before Gospel

Catholics touch forehead, lips, and chest again just before the Gospel reading at Mass—a separate gesture called the “minor sign of cross.” The forehead asks for understanding, the lips for the ability to speak God’s word, and the chest for the grace to live it. This distinct gesture applies specifically to the Gospel, while the full Sign of the Cross marks broader prayer times.

What should Catholics do before bed?

Night Prayer (Compline) steps

Compline—derived from the Latin “completorium,” meaning completion—serves as the Catholic Night Prayer, marking the quiet close of the day. Common Worship notes the practice dates to St. Benedict in the 6th century as part of the Divine Office, and monks, priests, and laity still use it today. The structure includes a brief examination of conscience, Psalms, scriptural canticles, and the Our Father.

The step-by-step flow runs as follows: begin with the Sign of the Cross and the opening invocation “God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me,” followed by a Glory Be. (Ascension Press) Then comes an examination of conscience—silently reflecting on the day’s sins—with an optional communal Confiteor (“I confess to almighty God… through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault”). (Universalis)

After Psalms, the Canticle of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis, Luke 2:29-32) entrusts the soul to God before sleep. (St. Patricks Guild) A common antiphon accompanies it: “Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.” (Ascension Press) The Our Father closes the structured portion before final blessings and the Sign of the Cross.

Covenant Catholic recommends an Act of Contrition before sleep to clear the conscience, while St. Patricks Guild highlights St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Prayer Before Sleep, which entrusts the soul to Jesus, Mary, and angels for protection during the night.

Powerful bedtime prayers

For families, the bedtime routine extends beyond Compline. Parents make the Sign of the Cross on children’s foreheads with blessings, and older children return the gesture to parents—a circle of prayer that reinforces domestic church values. (St. Patricks Guild) The Regina Caeli antiphon replaces the usual Marian antiphon during Eastertide, bringing a seasonal resurrection focus to night prayer. (Universalis)

What is the 5 finger prayer?

Steps for thumb to pinky

The 5 Finger Prayer is a Catholic method that assigns each finger to a category of people to hold in prayer: thumb nearest the heart for those closest to you (family, close friends); index finger for those who teach and guide (priests, teachers); middle finger for the tallest finger, representing leaders and authorities (government officials, church leaders); ring finger for those who are weak or suffering (the sick, the vulnerable); and pinky for self. The prayer moves from others to self, recognizing that personal needs come last.

Integration with Lord’s Prayer

While not a direct part of Compline’s formal structure, the 5 Finger Prayer works as a preparatory or standalone practice. It can precede the Our Father as a warm-up for intercession, or serve as an afternoon check-in during the day. Families with young children find it especially accessible—the physical anchors help kids remember who they’re praying for without abstract concepts.

How to Pray Night Prayer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you’re new to Compline or returning after years away, this guide walks through the essentials for praying Night Prayer alone or with a household.

“Every Catholic prayer time traditionally begins and ends with the Sign of the Cross.”

— St. Patricks Guild Blog, Catholic Resource Publisher

“With this Compline, the basic structure of which dates back to St. Benedict (6th century), we join the millennia-old tradition.”

— YouTube Narrator, Compline Video Producer

Related reading: Stations of the Cross

The Our Father, central to Catholic Mass and Rosary, draws from Matthew 6:9-13 and finds deeper resonance in full prayer biblical meaning explorations.

Frequently Asked Questions