St. Augustine, What Else Helps Me to Pray?
Question 030.
It sounds as if humility is a prerequisite for prayer. Are there other virtues that prepare the way for effective prayer?
Faith, hope, and love, therefore, lead the man of prayer to God. That is the man who believes, hopes, and desires is guided with regard to what he should ask the Lord by study of the Lord’s Prayer.
from […]
St. Augustine, How Can I Ensure That God Hears My Prayers?
Question 029.
How can I guarantee that God will hear my prayer?
[God] does indeed bow down his ear, if you do not lift up your neck; for the Lord draws near to the humble man. But from the exalted man he distances himself, unless he himself has exalted that man for his humility. God then bows down his ear towards us. For […]
St. Augustine, Are “The Elect” In Need of Prayer?
Question 028.
Does this mean that Augustine counts himself among “the elect,” and therefore not in need of prayer?
When you find me in these books, pray that I might not fail, but reach perfection. Pray, my son, pray…You would cheat me of great help if you were not to do so. But not only you, but anyone who by your witness should […]
St. Augustine, How Does Prayer Work With Predestination?
Question 027.
How does our prayer play a part in predestination?
It is precisely by our prayer that [God] wants to remind us from whom we receive such benefits. For from whom do we receive but from him who it is fitting to ask… [The Church] prays that the incredulous might believe; hence, God converts them to […]
St. Augustine, How Should One Pray for Unbelievers?
Question 026.
What about non-believers?
For God, who has fulfilled all that he predestines, wants us to pray for the enemies of the faith, too, so that we would in turn see that it is he who gives to the unbelievers, too, the gift of faith. And it is he who makes men who formerly were unwilling, to become men who do will it.
St. Augustine, Can Our Prayers Obtain Graces for Others?
Question 025.
St. Augustine speaks of obtaining grace for oneself through prayer. Can we obtain grace for others through prayer? Is there a social element to prayer?
We pray for all the human race, for the entire world, for all people… We do so that they correct themselves and become pure of heart, turning to God and his rectitude, and thus adhere to him…Let us […]
St. Augustine, Is There Anything We Can Do On Our Own?
Question 024.
Do we really have to pray for God’s grace? Can’t we make it on our own?
Give to me what you command of me, and demand of me whatever you want… When the Lord tells us “convert to me and I will convert to you”, what else is he saying than: ‘do what I command you’? And when we […]
St. Augustine, What is the Synergism between Prayer and Grace?
Question 023.
What is more important, prayer or grace?
God has desired that in spiritual combat we might fight with prayers than with our own strength… God does not command the impossible, but when he commands, he orders you to do what you can and to ask for what you cannot do on your own in order that he help you to do what you […]
St. Augustine, How Should the Converted Live Their Lives?
Question 022.
What is the relationship between prayer and conversion?
Part V: Counsels for the Converted
For living among things human, we cannot withdraw from things human. We must live among evil men with forbearance, because when we used to be evil men, the good men lived with forbearance among us. If we do not forget what we have been, we will not despair of those […]
St. Augustine, What Awaits Those Who are No Longer Attracted to Sin?
Question 022.
What is the relationship between prayer and conversion?
Part IV: Three Conversions Through Trial: Trial III
This trial is a sort of lethargy one feels at the length of his life, finding no enjoyment in prayer or reading. Contrary to the first trial, which was a hungering, this trial is distaste for food. Adultery no longer attracts you, but neither does the word of […]