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 […]
St. Augustine, How Should We Praise God For His Gifts?
Question 041. Part II
What is praise?
See whether this man, upon meditating on your works, has turned his gaze towards the works and away from the Worker. Observe whether or not he has descended from the Maker of all things to the things he has made. For what he has made has been made as a ladder to ascend to him, not descend […]
St. Augustine, What is Praise?
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 […]
