St. Augustine, Where is God’s Temple?
Question 013. Does this mean that beyond going into a private room, we are that private room? In other words, we are temples where God is to be found? ‘The heights’ it is said, ‘are in his heart, in the valley of weeping’. The valley is humility…Even though you seek a high place, a holy place, make yourself an earthly temple of God. ‘For the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple.’ [...]
St. Augustine, What Is It to Shut the Door?
Question 012. But what does it mean to “shut the door”? … to be alone with God in the sanctuary of the human heart, certain preparatory steps must be taken to ensure an authentic encounter with him. Cast out of your heart all sordid desires… greed… superstitions, blasphemies, and evil thoughts. Throw away your resentment – not only those you harbor towards your friends but those for your enemy, too. Take away all those things [...]
St. Augustine, What Does it Mean to Pray is Secret?
Question 011. If God is transcendent and immanent, why are we enjoined to go into our private room and, with the door shut, pray to our Father who is in a secret place? …pour out your prayer where God alone sees, he who repays all…if you know what ‘your private room’ is and clean it, then pray to God there….If men are to reward you, pour out your prayer before men. If God is to [...]
St. Augustine, How is God Both Internal and External to Myself?
Question 010. So our prayer is a search for a transcendent yet immanent God? Without interruption or occupying space, with his immutable and exalted power, God is the most interior of all things, because all things exist in him. Further, he is the most external thing, because he is above them all. Thus... with his immutable eternity he is the oldest of all things and the first of all things; he is the newest, because [...]