Fr. Paul D. Scalia, The Catholic Thing - The Gospels often put before us beautiful, powerful, sometimes unvarnished, petitions of our Lord. I believe, help my unbelief! the demoniac’s father blurts out. Increase our faith! the Apostles exclaim. In today’s Gospel (Lk 11:1-13) the disciples make a request with similar childlike bluntness and candor, Lord, teach us to pray... These words express what every human heart desires, but what few recognize.