St. Augustine on Prayer

Question 47a

Is God merciful to all who call upon Him?

Consider well, brethren, what good things God gives to sinners – and then learn what he gives to his servants.  To those sinners who blaspheme him every day, he gives the sky and the earth, he gives springs, fruit, health, children, wealth, bounty… 

from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on […]

Question 46

What is Thanksgiving?

Nothing will be sweeter in heaven than to thank Christ for his Blood by which we have been saved… “How can I repay the Lord for all the good done for me (Ps. 116:12) for even as my memory recalls these things, my soul is not repulsed by them?  I will love you, O Lord, and […]

Question 045

What is Adoration?

In persevering chastity one draws his strength from you and then, in no way shows himself to be changeable. For you are always present to him and he ever makes you the object of his affection, thus keeping himself (in a permanent present) with no future to look forward to or past to remember, undergoing no change or worldly distraction. O blessed […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Question 041. Part I

What is praise?

Do not think that he can be praised enough whose greatness is endless.  Should not then your praise be endless since he has no end?… Praise of God sets you on your way and should determine what you ought to love and what you should fear; what you should seek, and what you should avoid…The silence of […]