CHAPTER VII

ON THE PREPARATION FOR PRAYER

QUESTION I

With which Virtues the Soul should chiefly make Preparation for Prayer

Before thou prayest, prepare thy soul, and be not as one that tempteth the Lord, is in the sacred letters; for the man who, whilst he prays well, acts ill, and whilst he holds converse with God, suffers his mind to wander, tempteth God. As, therefore, the disposition with which we pray is of such importance, the pastor will teach his pious hearers how to pray. The first step, then, to [true] prayer, is unfeigned humility of soul, and an acknowledgment of our sins, with the conviction that, when we approach God, we are not only undeserving of receiving anything from him, but even of appearing in his presence to pray. This preparation is very frequently mentioned in the sacred letters, which also say: He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer; also: The prayer of the humble pierceth the clouds. But to learned pastors innumerable texts of the same import will occur, which we therefore omit as unnecessary to he here enumerated. Two examples, however, which we have elsewhere touched upon, because they are apposite to our present purpose, we shall not pass over; that of the publican, which is so well known, who standing afar off, dared not to lift up his eyes from the ground towards heaven, and that of the woman, a sinner, who, deeply moved with sorrow, bathed the feet of Christ our Lord with her tears. Both declare the great weight that Christian humility brings to prayer. The next disposition is a feeling of anguish, arising from the recollection of our sins, or, at least, some sense of sorrow, for the very reason that we cannot experience sorrow. If the sinner bring not with him to prayer both, or, at least, one of these, he cannot obtain pardon.

QUESTION II

What Vices must especially be avoided by one who wishes to pray profitably

But whereas there are some crimes, such as violence and murder, which oppose the greatest obstacles to the efficacy of our prayers with God, we must therefore keep our hands from such cruelty and violence: When ye spread forth your hands, says the Lord by the mouth of Isaias, I will hide my eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are fall of blood. We should also shun anger and strife, for they too oppose very great obstacles to our prayers being heard: I will therefore that men pray everywhere, says St. Paul, lifting up pure hands without wrath and doubting. We must also take care that we do not refuse to be appeased for injury received; for, if thus disposed, it is impossible for us to induce God by our prayers to pardon us: When ye stand praying, says he, forgive, if ye have ought against any; and: If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Insensibility and inhumanity to the poor we should also avoid; for against such men it is written: Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. What shall we say of pride? How hateful it is in the sight of God, the testimony of St. James showeth: God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace unto the humble. What of contempt of the Divine Oracles? He that turneth away his ears, says Solomon, from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Here, however, we are not to understand, that to implore pardon for an injury done, of murder, anger, insensibility to the wants of the poor, of pride, of contempt of the word of God, of any other crimes in fine, is excluded from the objects of prayer.

QUESTION III

Of Faith in God, which is accounted necessary for prayer

For this preparation of the soul, another requisite is faith, if the which be wanting, we can have no knowledge of the omnipotence or mercy of the Supreme Father, which, however, are the sources of our confidence in prayer. The necessity of faith as an accompaniment to prayer, Christ the Lord himself taught, when he said: All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Of this faith St. Augustine writes in his treatise, On the words of the Lord: If faith fails, prayer has perished. It is therefore of chief importance in prayer, that, as has been already said, we be firm and unwavering in faith, as the apostle shows by the converse: How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? Believe, then, we must, in order to be able to pray, and in order not to be wanting in that faith by which prayer is rendered available. For it is faith that poureth forth prayers, and prayers, all doubt being removed, give strength and stability to faith. To this effect is the exhortation of the holy Ignatius, to those who approach God with prayer: Be not of doubtful mind in prayer; blessed is he who hath not doubted. Wherefore, to obtain from God the objects of our prayers, faith and an assured confidence that we shall obtain it, have the greatest weight, according to the admonition of St. James; Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.

QUESTION IV

Motives to inspire us with Confidence in Prayer of obtaining those things which we ask therein

In this duty of prayer, there is much to inspire us with confidence. We have the well-known benevolence and benignity of God towards us, when he commands us to call him Father, to give us to understand that we are his children: we have the almost countless number of those whose prayers to God have been successful: we have that Supreme Intercessor Christ the Lord, who is ever ready to assist us, of whom we road in St. John: If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins; and the Apostle Paul saith: It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us; and to Timothy: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus; and also to the Hebrews: Wherefore, in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God. Unworthy, then, though we be, to obtain what we ask, yet through the dignity of our most excellent mediator and intercessor, Jesus Christ, we should hope and confidently trust, that God will grant us all that we duly ask through him in prayer.

QUESTION V

The Holy Spirit is the Author of our Prayers

Finally, the Holy Ghost is the author of our prayers; and under his guidance, they cannot fail to be heard; for we have received the spirit of adoption of sons of God, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. This spirit succours our infirmity and ignorance, in the discharge of this duty of prayer: nay, the apostle says: He maketh intercession for us with groanings, which cannot be uttered.

QUESTION VI

In what manner we ought to be assisted in Faith to attain the Divine Blessings

Should men then at any time waver, and not feel themselves sufficiently firm in faith, let us say with the apostles: Lord, increase our faith; and, with the father of the demoniac boy: Help thou my unbelief. But what most insures our fully attaining all our wishes from God, is when, abounding in faith and hope, we conform all our thoughts, actions, and prayers, to the law and will of God: If, saith he, ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. In order, however, thus to obtain all things from God, there must, as we have before said, be oblivion of all injuries, and good-will and beneficence towards our neighbours.