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Roman Catechism
Meaning of the Word “Amen”
First Explanation
The word amen, with which the Lord’s Prayer concludes, contains, as it were, the germs of many of these thoughts and reflections which we nave just considered. Indeed, so frequent was this Hebrew word in the mouth of the Saviour, that it pleased the Holy Ghost to have it retained in the Church of God. Its meaning may be said to be: Know that thy prayers are heard. It has the force of a response, as if God answers the suppliant, and graciously dismisses him, after having favourably heard his prayers.
This interpretation has been approved by the constant usage of the Church of God. In the Sacrifice of the Mass, when the Lord’s Prayer is said she does not assign the word amen to the server who answers: But deliver us front evil. She reserves it as appropriate to the priest himself, who, as mediator between God and man, answers Amen, thus intimating that God has heard the prayers of His people.
This practice, however, is not common to all the prayers, but is peculiar to the Lord’s Prayer. To the other prayers the server answers Amen, because in every other this word only expresses assent and desire. In the Lord’s Prayer it is an answer, intimating that God has heard the petition of His suppliant.