But the daily prayer that Jesus himself taught (whence it is called "The Lord's Prayer") does wipe out our daily sins and when we daily say: "Forgive us our debts," and then not only add the next words but also act accordingly: "as we also forgive our debtors." But the prayer is repeated because sins are committed, but not to the end that more may be committed because it is repeated. For by this petition the Saviour's purpose was to show that however righteously we may live amid the darkness and the instability of this life, we are never free from sins, but must pray for their forgiveness and must pardon those who sin against us, in order that we also may be pardoned.--St. Augustine, De Civitate Dei XXI.27.
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