Our Relationship with the Father

[ATeutonicKnight]

I’ve recently been trying to expand my relationship with God the Father. One way I’ve thought about this is calling the Father “Abba”, as using terms of endearment like this has precedent among the saints (Saint Therese, for instance, said she loved Mary so much she could only ever call her “momma”). However, the only person I have ever been aware of who used the name “Abba” is Jesus. This brings me to the question: can we use this name as well, or is it a name that denotes the special relationship between the Father and the Son alone, therefore making it inappropriate for us to use?

 

[LiamQ]

As St. Paul tell us:

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

And elsewhere:

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no better than a slave, though he is the owner of all the estate; but he is under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; when we were children, we were slaves to the elemental spirits of the universe. But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

(Romans 8 and Galatians 4)

 

[CB_Catholic]

Abba is a familiar term of endearment like “Daddy”, and I have no problem calling my heavenly Father “Daddy” or “Abba” because that is the relationship He wants to have with us.
it is perfectly fine.

 

[sticknstring73]

My actual father always does this. I thought is was weird when I was a kid but definitely see the appropriateness of it now.

 

[StGerardMajella]

This brings me to the question: can we use this name as well, or is it a name that denotes the special relationship between the Father and the Son alone, therefore making it inappropriate for us to use?

Instead of Abba, why not utilize the term Adonai (“Lord”) or Hashem (“the Name”) as it is used in Jewish prayers to address the Father?