Dag Hammarskjold was secretary-general of the UN from 1953 until 1961. Although he had no declared religion, he was attracted to Christianity. He had a profound admiration for the teachings of Jesus. We know this from his daily journal which has been published in a book called “Markings.”

Hammarskjold was responsible for building the Meditation Room at the UN headquarters in New York. I had the privilege of visiting there several years ago. I remember it to be a special place of prayer.

From reading his journal, we find that he had a special liking for the Lord’s Prayer which he meditated on in the Meditation Room on several occasions.

One of the most moving reads: “Hallowed be Thy name, (not mine), Thy kingdom come, (not mine), Thy will be done, (not mine).

This is the best summary of the Lord’s Pray that I have ever seen.

Jesus was asked one day by his disciples to teach them how to pray. He said, “Pray like this… ‘Then he gave them what we know now as the Lord’s Prayer.”

St. Augustine said many years ago: “What we ought to pray for is in the Lord’s Prayer; what is not in it, we ought not to pray for.”

God bless …