St. Augustine, Do We Only Praise God For Good Things?
Question 044
Other than God’s deserving our praise, does Augustine offer any motivations to praise God?
Those who praise you, O Lord, speak of the excellence of your terrible deeds, the greatness of the work of your hands which punish and distribute discipline. They shall speak and will not remain silent…For it is the praise of God that sets you on your way that ought […]
St. Augustine, How Do Our Prayers Please God?
Question 043
What makes our praise so pleasing to God?
Would you sing a psalm? Then do not sound God’s praises with voice alone, but put your works in harmony with your voice… “Let your praises be pleasing to our God.” How? By praising him with the goodness of our lives. Take heed of that and then your praise will be pleasing to him…If praise in the […]
St. Augustine, Do Our Prayers Manipulate God?
Question 042
Does this mean that we manipulate God through our charming praise?
God should be loved and praised gratuitously. What does ‘gratuitous’ mean?’ It means praising him for his own sake, and not for the sake of something else. For if you were to praise God that he might give you something else, you cease to love God freely. You would cringe […]
St. Augustine, How Should We Praise God For The Things We Receive?
Question 041 Part III
What is praise?
The rule is very brief: he pleases God who is pleased by God. And, beloved, do not think that this has to do with pleasure. See how many of you oppose God because you are not pleased with his works. True enough, when he wants to work against the will of men, because he is Lord because he […]
