This is one of the earliest surviving writings from the era of the Apostolic Fathers, the men immediately succeeding the Apostles. It purports to be a summary of the teaching of the Twelve Apostles, hence Didache (GK, "teaching")
Chapter 8. Fasting and Prayer (the Lord's Prayer).
But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites, for
they fast on the second and fifth day of the week. Rather, fast on the fourth day and the Preparation
(Friday). Do not pray like the hypocrites, but rather as the Lord commanded in His Gospel, like this:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as
it is in heaven. Give us today our daily (needful) bread, and forgive us our debt as we also forgive our
debtors. And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (or, evil); for Thine is the
power and the glory for ever.
Pray this three times each day.
Chapter 9. The Eucharist.
Now concerning the Eucharist, give thanks this way. First, concerning the
cup:
We thank thee, our Father, for the holy vine of David Thy servant, which You madest known to us
through Jesus Thy Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever.
And concerning the broken bread:
We thank Thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You madest known to us through Jesus Thy
Servant; to Thee be the glory for ever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was
gathered together and became one, so let Thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into
Thy kingdom; for Thine is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for ever.
But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord;
for concerning this also the Lord has said, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs."
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To read the rest of today's selection, please visit the following site:
http://www.churchyear.net/lentfatherscomplete.pdf
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