St. Augustine, Are Those Who Do Not Pray Condemned?
Question 51 What about those who do not know to pray for themselves? Are they lost? There are gifts that God gives even to those who do not pray, such as the birth of faith. And there are gifts that God gives only to those who pray, such as final perseverance. from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger Man is a religious being, homo religiosus, created as imago Dei. He has the Law [...]
St. Augustine, Doesn’t God Already Know What We Need?
Question 50 Is prayer of petition necessary if before we ask of him, he knows what we need? It is not that he discovers what our wishes are, for it cannot be unknown to him - but through our prayers, the petitions made in us bring about the proper dispositions of desire with which we ought to receive whatever he grants us… Even when he gives slowly, it is to show us the value of [...]
St. Augustine, What is the Prayer of Petition?
Question 49 What is prayer of petition? Prayer of petition is born of the awareness of our need. God has every intention of giving, but only to him who asks, so as not to give something to one who would refuse to take it. from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by Fr. Ermatinger For a moment, let the image of the door in scripture be pondered. From Revelation 3:20, there is the [...]