What does this mean? The Catechism says this: "This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen means 'yes, yes, it shall be so.'"
I've never particularly liked the longer explanation, but it does emphasize one thing very well: We pray in faith. We pray the Lord's prayer with boldness because God Himself gave it to us. We know this prayer is pleasing to Him because this is the prayer He taught us to pray. And because God gave us a pray that He finds pleasing, we can be sure that He hears it.
More than that: When we say "Amen" it doesn't mean "I'm done now." It means: "Let it be established!" (That is the literalistic translation of the Hebrew word "amen.") But we don't say this with any uncertainty. God has called on us to pray for these things because He plans to give them to us. And if God has said He will give them to us, it's a done deal. The only question now is "how long, O Lord?"
So what should we do until He has answered all these petitions for us? Oh, I know! Keep on praying!
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