Letter CXXX.

(a.d. 412.)

To Proba,984    Anicia Faltonia Proba, the widow of Sextus Petronius Probus, belonged to a Roman family of great wealth and noble lineage. Three of her sons held the consulship, two of them together in 395 A.D., and the third in 406 A.D. When Rome was taken by Alaric m 410, Proba and her family were in the city, and narrowly escaped from violence during the six days in which the Goths pillaged the city. About this time one of the sons of Proba died, and very soon after this sad event she resolved to quit Rome, as the return of Alaric was daily apprehended. Having realized her ample fortune, she sailed to Africa, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Juliana (the widow of Anicus Hermogenianus Olybrius), and the daughter of Juliana Demetrias, the well known religieuse, whose taking of the veil in 413 produced so profound an impression throughout the ecclesiastical world. A considerable retinue of widows and younger women, seeking protection under her escort, accompanied the distinguished refugee to Carthage. After paying a large sum to secure the protection of Heraclianus, Count of Africa, she was permitted to establish herself with her community of pious women in Carthage. Her piety led her to seek the friendship and counsel of Augustin. How readily it was given is seen here, and in Letters CXXXI., CL., and CLXXXVIII.a Devoted Handmaid of God, Bishop Augustin, a Servant of Christ and of Christ’s Servants, Sends Greeting in the Name of the Lord of Lords.

Chap. I.

1. Recollecting your request and my promise, that as soon as time and opportunity should be given by Him to whom we pray, I would write you something on the subject of prayer to God, I feel it my duty now to discharge this debt, and in the love of Christ to minister to the satisfaction of your pious desire. I cannot express in words how greatly I rejoiced because of the request, in which I perceived how great is your solicitude about this supremely important matter. For what could be more suitably the business of your widowhood than to continue in supplications night and day, according to the apostle’s admonition, “She that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications night and day”?985    1 Tim. v. 5. It might, indeed, appear wonderful that solicitude about prayer should occupy your heart and claim the first place in it, when you are, so far as this world is concerned, noble and wealthy, and the mother of such an illustrious family, and, although a widow, not desolate, were it not that you wisely understand that in this world and in this life the soul has no sure portion.

2. Wherefore He who inspired you with this thought is assuredly doing what He promised to His disciples when they were grieved, not for themselves, but for the whole human family, and were despairing of the salvation of any one, after they heard from Him that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He gave them this marvellous and merciful reply: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”986    Matt. xix. 21–26. He, therefore, with whom it is possible to make even the rich enter into the kingdom of heaven, inspired you with that devout anxiety which makes you think it necessary to ask my counsel on the question how you ought to pray. For while He was yet on earth, He brought Zaccheus,987    Luke xix. 9. though rich, into the kingdom of heaven, and, after being glorified in His resurrection and ascension, He made many who were rich to despise this present world, and made them more truly rich by extinguishing their desire for riches through His imparting to them His Holy Spirit. For how could you desire so much to pray to God if you did not trust in Him? And how could you trust in Him if you were fixing your trust in uncertain riches, and neglecting the wholesome exhortation of the apostle: “Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation, that they may lay hold on eternal life”?988    1 Tim. vi. 17–19.

Chap. II.

3. It becomes you, therefore, out of love to this true life, to account yourself “desolate” in this world, however great the prosperity of your lot may be. For as that is the true life, in comparison with which the present life, which is much loved, is not worthy to be called life, however happy and prolonged it be, so is it also the true consolation promised by the Lord in the words of Isaiah, “I will give him the true consolation, peace upon peace,”989    Isa. lvii. 18, 19, in LXX. version. without which consolation men find themselves, in the midst of every mere earthly solace, rather desolate than comforted. For as for riches and high rank, and all other things in which men who are strangers to true felicity imagine that happiness exists, what comfort do they bring, seeing that it is better to be independent of such things than to enjoy abundance of them, because, when possessed, they occasion, through our fear of losing them, more vexation than was caused by the strength of desire with which their possession was coveted? Men are not made good by possessing these so-called good things, but, if men have become good otherwise, they make these things to be really good by using them well. Therefore true comfort is to be found not in them, but rather in those things in which true life is found. For a man can be made blessed only by the same power by which he is made good.

4. It is true, indeed, that good men are seen to be the sources of no small comfort to others in this world. For if we be harassed by poverty, or saddened by bereavement, or disquieted by bodily pain, or pining in exile, or vexed by any kind of calamity, let good men visit us, men who can not only rejoice with them that rejoice, but also weep with them that weep,990    Rom. xii. 15. and who know how to give profitable counsel, and win us to express our feelings in conversation: the effect is, that rough things become smooth, heavy burdens are lightened, and difficulties vanquished most wonderfully. But this is done in and through them by Him who has made them good by His Spirit. On the other hand, although riches may abound, and no bereavement befal us, and health of body be enjoyed, and we live in our own country in peace and safety, if, at the same time, we have as our neighbours wicked men, among whom there is not one who can be trusted, not one from whom we do not apprehend and experience treachery, deceit, outbursts of anger, dissensions, and snares, in such a case are not all these other things made bitter and vexatious, so that nothing sweet or pleasant is left in them? Whatever, therefore, be our circumstances in this world, there is nothing truly enjoyable without a friend. But how rarely is one found in this life about whose spirit and behaviour as a true friend there may be perfect confidence! For no one is known to another so intimately as he is known to himself, and yet no one is so well known even to himself that he can be sure as to his own conduct on the morrow; wherefore, although many are known by their fruits, and some gladden their neighhours by their good lives, while others grieve their neighbours by their evil lives, yet the minds of men are so unknown and so unstable, that there is the highest wisdom in the exhortation of the apostle: “Judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God.”991    1 Cor. iv. 5.

5. In the darkness, then, of this world, in which we are pilgrims absent from the Lord as long as “we walk by faith and not by sight,”992    2 Cor. v. 6, 7. the Christian soul ought to feel itself desolate, and continue in prayer, and learn to fix the eye of faith on the word of the divine sacred Scriptures, as “on a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our hearts.”993    2 Pet. i. 19. For the ineffable source from which this lamp borrows its light is the Light which shineth in darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not—the Light, in order to seeing which our hearts must be purified by faith; for “blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God;”994    Matt. v. 8. and “we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”995    1 John iii. 2. Then after death shall come the true life, and after desolation the true consolation, that life shall deliver our “souls from death” that consolation shall deliver our “eyes from tears,” and, as follows in the psalm, our feet shall be delivered from falling; for there shall be no temptation there.996    Ps. cxvi. 8. Moreover, if there be no temptation, there will be no prayer; for there we shall not be waiting for promised blessings, but contemplating the blessings actually bestowed; wherefore he adds, “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living,”997    Ps. cxvi. 9. In the LXX., εὐαρεστήσω; in Aug., “placebo.” where we shall then be—not in the wilderness of the dead, where we now are: “For ye are dead,” says the apostle, “and your life is hid with Christ in God; when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.”998    Col. iii. 3, 4. For that is the true life on which the rich are exhorted to lay hold by being rich in good works; and in it is the true consolation, for want of which, meanwhile, a widow is “desolate” indeed, even though she has sons and grandchildren, and conducts her household piously, entreating all dear to her to put their hope in God: and in the midst of all this, she says in her prayer, “My soul thirsteth for Thee; my flesh longeth in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”999    Ps. lxiii. 1. and this dying life is nothing else than such a land, however numerous our mortal comforts, however pleasant our companions in the pilgrimage, and however great the abundance of our possessions. You know how uncertain all these things are; and even if they were not uncertain, what would they be in comparison with the felicity which is promised in the life to come!

6. In saying these things to you, who, being a widow, rich and noble, and the mother of an illustrious family, have asked from me a discourse on prayer, my aim has been to make you feel that, even while your family are spared to you, and live as you would desire, you are desolate so long as you have not attained to that life in which is the true and abiding consolation, in which shall be fulfilled what is spoken in prophecy: “We are satisfied in the morning with Thy mercy, we rejoice and are glad all our days; we are made glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.”1000    Ps. xc. 14, 15, version of LXX.

Chap. III.

7. Wherefore, until that consolation come, remember, in order to your “continuing in prayers and supplications night and day,” that, however great the temporal prosperity may be which flows around you, you are desolate. For the apostle does not ascribe this gift to every widow, but to her who, being a widow indeed, and desolate, “trusteth in God, and continueth in supplication night and day.” Observe, however, most vigilantly the warning which follows: “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth;”1001    1 Tim. v. 5, 6. for a person lives in those things which he loves, which he greatly desires, and in which he believes himself to be blessed. Wherefore, what Scripture has said of riches: “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them,”1002    Ps. lxii. 10. I say to you concerning pleasures: “If pleasures increase, set not your heart upon them.” Do not, therefore, think highly of yourself because these things are not wanting, but are yours abundantly, flowing, as it were, from a most copious fountain of earthly felicity. By all means look upon your possession of these things with indifference and contempt, and seek nothing from them beyond health of body. For this is a blessing not to be despised, because of its being necessary to the work of life until “this mortal shall have put on immortality”1003    1 Cor. xv. 54. in other words, the true, perfect, and everlasting health, which is neither reduced by earthly infirmities nor repaired by corruptible gratification, but, enduring with celestial rigour, is animated with a life eternally incorruptible. For the apostle himself says, “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof,”1004    Rom. xiii. 14. because we must take care of the flesh, but only in so far as is necessary for health; “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh,”1005    Eph. v. 39. as he himself likewise says. Hence, also, he admonished Timothy, who was, as it appears, too severe upon his body, that he should “use a little wine for his stomach’s sake, and for his often infirmities.”1006    1 Tim. v. 23.

8. Many holy men and women, using every precaution against those pleasures in which she that liveth, cleaving to them, and dwelling in them as her heart’s delight, is dead while she liveth, have cast from them that which is as it were the mother of pleasures, by distributing their wealth among the poor, and so have stored it in the safer keeping of the treasury of heaven. If you are hindered from doing this by some consideration of duty to your family, you know yourself what account you can give to God of your use of riches. For no one knoweth what passeth within a man, “but the spirit of the man which is in him.”1007    1 Cor. ii. 11. We ought not to judge anything “before the time until the Lord come who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then shall every man have praise of God.”1008    1 Cor. iv. 5. It pertains, therefore, to your care as a widow, to see to it that if pleasures increase you do not set your heart upon them, lest that which ought to rise that it may live, die through contact with their corrupting influence. Reckon yourself to be one of those of whom it is written, “Their hearts shall live for ever.”1009    Ps. xxii. 26.

Chap. IV.

9. You have now heard what manner of person you should be if you would pray; hear, in the next place, what you ought to pray for. This is the subject on which you have thought it most necessary to ask my opinion, because you were disturbed by the words of the apostle: “We know not what we should pray for as we ought;”1010    Rom. viii. 26. and you became alarmed lest it should do you more harm to pray otherwise than you ought, than to desist from praying altogether. A short solution of your difficulty may be given thus: “Pray for a happy life.” This all men wish to have; for even those whose lives are worst and most abandoned would by no means live thus, unless they thought that in this way they either were made or might be made truly happy. Now what else ought we to pray for than that which both bad and good desire, but which only the good obtain?

Chap. V.

10. You ask, perchance, What is this happy life? On this question the talents and leisure of many philosophers have been wasted, who, nevertheless, failed in their researches after it just in proportion as they failed to honour Him from whom it proceeds, and were unthankful to Him. In the first place, then, consider whether we should accept the opinion of those philosophers who pronounce that man happy who lives according to his own will. Far be it, surely, from us to believe this; for what if a man’s will inclines him to live in wickedness? Is he not proved to be a miserable man in proportion to the facility with which his depraved will is carried out? Even philosophers who were strangers to the worship of God have rejected this sentiment with deserved abhorrence. One of them, a man of the greatest eloquence, says: “Behold, however, others, not philosophers indeed, but men of ready power in disputation, who affirm that all men are happy who live according to their own will. But this is certainly untrue, for to wish that which is unbecoming is itself a most miserable thing; nor is it so miserable a thing to fail in obtaining what you wish as to wish to obtain what you ought not to desire.”1011    Cicero Hortensius. What is your opinion? Are not these words, by whomsoever they are spoken, derived from the Truth itself? We may therefore here say what the apostle said of a certain Cretan poet1012    Epimenides. whose sentiment had pleased him: “This witness is true.”1013    Titus i. 13.

11. He, therefore, is truly happy who has all that he wishes to have, and wishes to have nothing which he ought not to wish. This being understood, let us now observe what things men may without impropriety wish to have. One desires marriage; another, having become a widower, chooses thereafter to live a life of continence; a third chooses to practise continence though he is married. And although of these three conditions one may be found better than another, we cannot say that any one of the three persons is wishing what he ought not: the same is true of the desire for children as the fruit of marriage, and for life and health to be enjoyed by the children who have been received,—of which desires the latter is one with which widows remaining unmarried are for the most part occupied; for although, refusing a second marriage, they do not now wish to have children, they wish that the children that they have may live in health. From all such care those who preserve their virginity intact are free. Nevertheless, all have some dear to them whose temporal welfare they do without impropriety desire. But when men have obtained this health for themselves, and for those whom they love, are we at liberty to say that they are now happy? They have, it is true, something which it is quite becoming to desire; but if they have not other things which are greater, better, and more full both of utility and beauty, they are still far short of possessing a happy life.

Chap. VI.

12. Shall we then say, that in addition to this health of body men may desire for themselves and for those dear to them honour and power? By all means, if they desire these in order that by obtaining them they may promote the interest of those who may be their dependants. If they seek these things not for the sake of the things themselves, but for some good thing which may through this means be accomplished, the wish is a proper one; but if it be merely for the empty gratification of pride, and arrogance, and for a superfluous and pernicious triumph of vanity, the wish is improper. Wherefore, men do nothing wrong in desiring for themselves and for their kindred the competent portion of necessary things, of which the apostle speaks when he says: “Godliness with a competency [contentment in English version] is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out: and having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition; for the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”1014    1 Tim. vi. 6–10. This competent portion he desires without impropriety who desires it and nothing beyond it; for if his desires go beyond it, he is not desiring it, and therefore his desire is improper. This was desired, and was prayed for by him who said: “Give me neither poverty nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”1015    Prov. xxx. 8, 9. You see assuredly that this competency is desired not for its own sake, but to secure the health of the body, and such provision of house and clothing as is befitting the man’s circumstances, that he may appear as he ought to do among those amongst whom he has to live, so as to retain their respect and discharge the duties of his position.

13. Among all these things, our own welfare and the benefits which friendship bids us ask for others are things to be desired on their own account; but a competency of the necessaries of life is usually sought, if it be sought in the proper way, not on its own account, but for the sake of the two higher benefits. Welfare consists in the possession of life itself, and health and soundness of mind and body. The claims of friendship, moreover, are not to be confined within too narrow range, for it embraces all to whom love and kindly affection are due, although the heart goes out to some of these more freely, to others more cautiously; yea, it even extends to our enemies, for whom also we are commanded to pray. There is accordingly no one in the whole human family to whom kindly affection is not due by reason of the bond of a common humanity, although it may not be due on the ground of reciprocal love;

Chap. VII.—but in those by whom we are requited with a holy and pure love, we find great and reasonable pleasure.

For these things, therefore, it becomes us to pray: if we have them, that we may keep them; if we have them not, that we may get them.

14. Is this all? Are these the benefits in which exclusively the happy life is found? Or does truth teach us that something else is to be preferred to them all? We know that both the competency of things necessary, and the well-being of ourselves and of our friends, so long as these concern this present world alone, are to be cast aside as dross in comparison with the obtaining of eternal life; for although the body may be in health, the mind cannot be regarded as sound which does not prefer eternal to temporal things; yea, the life which we live in time is wasted, if it be not spent in obtaining that by which we may be worthy of eternal life. Therefore all things which are the objects of useful and becoming desire are unquestionably to be viewed with reference to that one life which is lived with God, and is derived from Him. In so doing, we love ourselves if we love God; and we truly love our neighbours as ourselves, according to the second great commandment, if, so far as is in our power, we persuade them to a similar love of God. We love God, therefore, for what He is in Himself, and ourselves and our neighbours for His sake. Even when living thus, let us not think that we are securely established in that happy life, as if there was nothing more for which we should still pray. For how could we be said to live a happy life now, while that which alone is the object of a well-directed life is still wanting to us?

Chap. VIII.

15. Why, then, are our desires scattered over many things, and why, through fear of not praying as we ought, do we ask what we should pray for, and not rather say with the Psalmist: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple”?1016    Ps. xxvii. 4. For in the house of the Lord “all the days of life” are not days distinguished by their successively coming and passing away: the beginning of one day is not the end of another; but they are all alike unending in that place where the life which is made up of them has itself no end. In order to our obtaining this true blessed life, He who is Himself the True Blessed Life has taught us to pray, not with much speaking, as if our being heard depended upon the fluency with which we express ourselves, seeing that we are praying to One who, as the Lord tells us, “knoweth what things we have need of before we ask Him.”1017    Matt. vi. 7, 8. Whence it may seem surprising that, although He has forbidden “much speaking,” He who knoweth before we ask Him what things we need has nevertheless given us exhortation to prayer in such words as these: “Men ought always to pray and not to faint;” setting before us the case of a widow, who, desiring to have justice done to her against her adversary, did by her persevering entreaties persuade an unjust judge to listen to her, not moved by a regard either to justice or to mercy, but overcome by her wearisome importunity; in order that we might be admonished how much more certainly the Lord God, who is merciful and just, gives ear to us praying continually to Him, when this widow, by her unremitting supplication, prevailed over the indifference of an unjust and wicked judge, and how willingly and benignantly He fulfils the good desires of those whom He knows to have forgiven others their trespasses, when this suppliant, though seeking vengeance upon her adversary, obtained her desire.1018    Luke xviii. 1–8. A similar lesson the Lord gives in the parable of the man to whom a friend in his journey had come, and who, having nothing to set before him, desired to borrow from another friend three loaves (in which, perhaps, there is a figure of the Trinity of persons of one substance), and finding him already along with his household asleep, succeeded by very urgent and importunate entreaties in rousing him up, so that he gave him as many as he needed, being moved rather by a wish to avoid further annoyance than by benevolent thoughts: from which the Lord would have us understand that, if even one who was asleep is constrained to give, even in spite of himself, after being disturbed in his sleep by the person who asks of him, how much more kindly will He give who never sleeps, and who rouses us from sleep that we may ask from Him.1019    Luke xi. 5–8.

16. With the same design He added: “Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask Him?”1020    Luke xi. 9–13, and Matt. vii. 7–11. We have here what corresponds to those three things which the apostle commends: faith is signified by the fish, either on account of the element of water used in baptism, or because it remains unharmed amid the tempestuous waves of this world,—contrasted with which is the serpent, that with poisonous deceit persuaded man to disbelieve God; hope is signified by the egg, because the life of the young bird is not yet in it, but is to be—is not seen, but hoped for, because “hope which is seen is not hope,”1021    Rom. viii. 24.—contrasted with which is the scorpion, for the man who hopes for eternal life forgets the things which are behind, and reaches forth to the things which are before, for to him it is dangerous to look back; but the scorpion is to be guarded against on account of what it has in its tail, namely, a sharp and venomous sting; charity, is signified by bread, for “the greatest of these is charity,” and bread surpasses all other kinds of food in usefulness,—contrasted with which is a stone, because hard hearts refuse to exercise charity. Whether this be the meaning of these symbols, or some other more suitable be found, it is at least certain that He who knoweth how to give good gifts to His children urges us to “ask and seek and knock.”

17. Why this should be done by Him who “before we ask Him knoweth what things we have need of,” might perplex our minds, if we did not understand that the Lord our God requires us to ask not that thereby our wish may be intimated to Him, for to Him it cannot be unknown, but in order that by prayer there may be exercised in us by supplications that desire by which we may receive what He prepares to bestow. His gifts are very great, but we are small and straitened in our capacity of receiving. Wherefore it is said to us: “Be ye enlarged, not bearing the yoke along with unbelievers.1022    2 Cor. vi. 13, 14. For, in proportion to the simplicity of our faith, the firmness of our hope, and the ardour of our desire, will we more largely receive of that which is immensely great; which “eye hath not seen,” for it is not colour; which “the ear hath not heard,” for it is not sound; and which hath not ascended into the heart of man, for the heart of man must ascend to it.1023    1 Cor. ii. 9.

Chap. IX.

18. When we cherish uninterrupted desire along with the exercise of faith and hope and charity, we “pray always.” But at certain stated hours and seasons we also use words in prayer to God, that by these signs of things we may admonish ourselves, and may acquaint ourselves with the measure of progress which we have made in this desire, and may more warmly excite ourselves to obtain an increase of its strength. For the effect following upon prayer will be excellent in proportion to the fervour of the desire which precedes its utterance. And therefore, what else is intended by the words of the apostle: “Pray without ceasing,”1024    1 Thess. v. 17. than, “Desire without intermission, from Him who alone can give it, a happy life, which no life can be but that which is eternal”? This, therefore, let us desire continually from the Lord our God; and thus let us pray continually. But at certain hours we recall our minds from other cares and business, in which desire itself somehow is cooled down, to the business of prayer, admonishing ourselves by the words of our prayer to fix attention upon that which we desire, lest what had begun to lose heat become altogether cold, and be finally extinguished, if the flame be not more frequently fanned. Whence, also, when the same apostle says, “Let your requests be made known unto God,”1025    Phil. iv. 6. this is not to be understood as if thereby they become known to God, who certainly knew them before they were uttered, but in this sense, that they are to be made known to ourselves in the presence of God by patient waiting upon Him, not in the presence of men by ostentatious worship. Or perhaps that they may be made known also to the angels that are in the presence of God, that these beings may in some way present them to God, and consult Him concerning them, and may bring to us, either manifestly or secretly, that which, hearkening to His commandment, they may have learned to be His will, and which must be fulfilled by them according to that which they have there learned to be their duty; for the angel said to Tobias:1026    Tobias xii. 12. “Now, therefore, when thou didst pray, and Sara thy daughter-in-law, I did bring the remembrance of your prayers before the Holy One.”

Chap. X.

19. Wherefore it is neither wrong nor unprofitable to spend much time in praying, if there be leisure for this without hindering other good and necessary works to which duty calls us, although even in the doing of these, as I have said, we ought by cherishing holy desire to pray without ceasing. For to spend a long time in prayer is not, as some think, the same thing as to pray “with much speaking.” Multiplied words are one thing, long-continued warmth of desire is another. For even of the Lord Himself it is written, that He continued all night in prayer,1027    Luke vi. 12. and that His prayer was more prolonged when He was in an agony;1028    Luke xxii. 43. English version, “more earnestly.” and in this is not an example given to us by Him who is in time an Intercessor such as we need, and who is with the Father eternally the Hearer of prayer?

20. The brethren in Egypt are reported to have very frequent prayers, but these very brief, and, as it were, sudden and ejaculatory, lest the wakeful and aroused attention which is indispensable in prayer should by protracted exercises vanish or lose its keenness. And in this they themselves show plainly enough, that just as this attention is not to be allowed to become exhausted if it cannot continue long, so it is not to be suddenly suspended if it is sustained. Far be it from us either to use “much speaking” in prayer, or to refrain from prolonged prayer, if fervent attention of the soul continue. To use much speaking in prayer is to employ a superfluity of words in asking a necessary thing; but to prolong prayer is to have the heart throbbing with continued pious emotion towards Him to whom we pray. For in most cases prayer consists more in groaning than in speaking, in tears rather than in words. But He setteth our tears in His sight, and our groaning is not hidden from Him who made all things by the word, and does not need human words.

Chap. XI.

21. To us, therefore, words are necessary, that by them we may be assisted in considering and observing what we ask, not as means by which we expect that God is to be either informed or moved to compliance. When, therefore, we say: “Hallowed be Thy name,” we admonish ourselves to desire that His name, which is always holy, may be also among men esteemed holy, that is to say, not despised; which is an advantage not to God, but to men. When we say: “Thy kingdom come,” which shall certainly come whether we wish it or not, we do by these words stir up our own desires for that kingdom, that it may come to us, and that we may be found worthy to reign in it. When we say: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we pray for ourselves that He would give us the grace of obedience, that His will may be done by us in the same way as it is done in heavenly places by His angels. When we say: “Give us this day our daily bread,” the word “this day” signifies for the present time, in which we ask either for that competency of temporal blessings which I have spoken of before (“bread” being used to designate the whole of those blessings, because of its constituting so important a part of them), or the sacrament of believers, which is in this present time necessary, but necessary in order to obtain the felicity not of the present time, but of eternity. When we say: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” we remind ourselves both what we should ask, and what we should do in order that we may be worthy to receive what we ask. When we say: “Lead us not into temptation,” we admonish ourselves to seek that we may not, through being deprived of God’s help, be either ensnared to consent or compelled to yield to temptation. When we say: “Deliver us from evil,” we admonish ourselves to consider that we are not yet enjoying that good estate in which we shall experience no evil. And this petition, which stands last in the Lord’s Prayer, is so comprehensive that a Christian, in whatsoever affliction he be placed, may in using it give utterance to his groans and find vent for his tears—may begin with this petition, go on with it, and with it conclude his prayer. For it was necessary that by the use of these words the things which they signify should be kept before our memory.

Chap. XII.

22. For whatever other words we may say,—whether the desire of the person praying go before the words, and employ them in order to give definite form to its requests, or come after them, and concentrate attention upon them, that it may increase in fervour,—if we pray rightly, and as becomes our wants, we say nothing but what is already contained in the Lord’s Prayer. And whoever says in prayer anything which cannot find its place in that gospel prayer, is praying in a way which, if it be not unlawful, is at least not spiritual; and I know not how carnal prayers can be lawful, since it becomes those who are born again by the Spirit to pray in no other way than spiritually. For example, when one prays: “Be Thou glorified among all nations as Thou art glorified among us,” and “Let Thy prophets be found faithful,”1029    Ecclus. xxxvi. 4, 18. what else does he ask than, “Hallowed be Thy name”? When one says: “Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause Thy face to shine, and we shall be saved,”1030    Ps. lxxx. 7, 19. what else is he saying than, “Let Thy kingdom come”? When one says: “Order my steps in Thy word, and let not any iniquity have dominion over me,”1031    Ps. cxix. 133. what else is he saying than, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”? When one says: “Give me neither poverty nor riches,”1032    Prov. xxx. 8. what else is this than, “Give us this day our daily bread”? When one says: “Lord, remember David, and all his compassion,”1033    Ps. cxxxii. 1 (LXX.). or, “O Lord, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to them that did evil to me,”1034    Ps. vii. 3, 4. what else is this than, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”? When one says: “Take away from me the lusts of the appetite, and let not sensual desire take hold on me,”1035    Ecclus. xxiii. 6. what else is this than, “Lead us not into temptation”? When one says: “Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God; defend me from them that rise up against me,”1036    Ps. lix. 1. what else is this than, “Deliver us from evil”? And if you go over all the words of holy prayers, you will, I believe, find nothing which cannot be comprised and summed up in the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer. Wherefore, in praying, we are free to use different words to any extent, but we must ask the same things; in this we have no choice.

23. These things it is our duty to ask without hesitation for ourselves and for our friends, and for strangers—yea, even for enemies; although in the heart of the person praying, desire for one and for another may arise, differing in nature or in strength according to the more immediate or more remote relationship. But he who says in prayer such words as, “O Lord, multiply my riches;” or, “Give me as much wealth as Thou hast given to this or that man;” or, “Increase my honours, make me eminent for power and fame in this world,” or something else of this sort, and who asks merely from a desire for these things, and not in order through them to benefit men agreeably to God’s will, I do not think that he will find any part of the Lord’s Prayer in connection with which he could fit in these requests. Wherefore let us be ashamed at least to ask these things, if we be not ashamed to desire them. If, however, we are ashamed of even desiring them, but feel ourselves overcome by the desire, how much better would it be to ask to be freed from this plague of desire by Him to whom we say, “Deliver us from evil”!

Chap. XIII.

24. You have now, if I am not mistaken, an answer to two questions,—what kind of person you ought to be if you would pray, and what things you should ask in prayer; and the answer has been given not by my teaching, but by His who has condescended to teach us all. A happy life is to be sought after, and this is to be asked from the Lord God. Many different answers have been given by many in discussing wherein true happiness consists; but why should we go to many teachers, or consider many answers to this question? It has been briefly and truly stated in the divine Scriptures, “Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.”1037    Ps. cxliv. 15. That we may be numbered among this people, and that we may attain to beholding Him and dwelling for ever with Him, “the end of the commandment is, charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”1038    1 Tim. i. 5. In the same three, hope has been placed instead of a good conscience. Faith, hope, and charity, therefore, lead unto God the man who prays, i.e. who believes, hopes, and desires, and is guided as to what he should ask from the Lord by studying the Lord’s Prayer. Fasting, and abstinence from gratifying carnal desire in other pleasures without injury to health, and especially frequent almsgiving, are a great assistance in prayer; so that we may be able to say, “In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord, with my hands in the night before Him, and I was not deceived.”1039    Ps. lxxvii. 2 (LXX.). For how can God, who is a Spirit, and who cannot be touched, be sought with hands in any other sense than by good works?

Chap. XIV.

25. Perhaps you may still ask why the apostle said, “We know not what to pray for as we ought,”1040    Rom. viii. 26. for it is wholly incredible that either he or those to whom he wrote were ignorant of the Lord’s Prayer. He could not say this either rashly or falsely; what, then, do we suppose to be his reason for the statement? Is it not that vexations and troubles in this world are for the most part profitable either to heal the swelling of pride, or to prove and exercise patience, for which, after such probation and discipline, a greater reward is reserved, or to punish and eradicate some sins; but we, not knowing what beneficial purpose these may serve, desire to be freed from all tribulation? To this ignorance the apostle showed that even he himself was not a stranger (unless, perhaps, he did it notwithstanding his knowing what to pray for as he ought), when, lest he should be exalted above measure by the greatness of the revelations, there was given unto him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him; for which thing, not knowing surely what he ought to pray for, he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him. At length he received the answer of God, declaring why that which so great a man prayed for was denied, and why it was expedient that it should not be done: “My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in weakness.”1041    2 Cor. xii. 7–9.

26. Accordingly, we know not what to pray for as we ought in regard to tribulations, which may do us good or harm; and yet, because they are hard and painful, and against the natural feelings of our weak nature, we pray, with a desire which is common to mankind, that they may be removed from us. But we ought to exercise such submission to the will of the Lord our God, that if He does not remove those vexations, we do not suppose ourselves to be neglected by Him, but rather, in patient endurance of evil, hope to be made partakers of greater good, for so His strength is perfected in our weakness. God has sometimes in anger granted the request of impatient petitioners, as in mercy He denied it to the apostle. For we read what the Israelites asked, and in what manner they asked and obtained their request; but while their desire was granted, their impatience was severely corrected.1042    Numb. xi. Again, He gave them, in answer to their request, a king according to their heart, as it is written, not according to His own heart.1043    1 Sam. viii. 6, 7. He granted also what the devil asked, namely, that His servant, who was to be proved, might be tempted.1044    Job i. 12, ii. 6. He granted also the request of unclean spirits, when they besought Him that their legion might be sent into the great herd of swine.1045    Luke viii. 32. These things are written to prevent any one from thinking too highly of himself if he has received an answer when he was urgently asking anything which it would be more advantageous for him not to receive, or to prevent him from being cast down and despairing of the divine compassion towards himself if he be not heard, when, perchance, he is asking something by the obtaining of which he might be more grievously afflicted, or might be by the corrupting influences of prosperity wholly destroyed. In regard to such things, therefore, we know not what to pray for as we ought. Accordingly, if anything is ordered in a way contrary to our prayer, we ought, patiently bearing the disappointment, and in everything giving thanks to God, to entertain no doubt whatever that it was right that the will of God and not our will should be done. For of this the Mediator has given us an example, inasmuch as, after He had said, “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me,” transforming the human will which was in Him through His incarnation, He immediately added, “Nevertheless, O Father, not as I will but as Thou wilt.”1046    Matt. xxvi. 39. Wherefore, not without reason are many made righteous by the obedience of One.1047    Rom. v. 19.

27. But whoever desires from the Lord that “one thing,” and seeks after it,1048    Ps. xxvii. 4. asks in certainty and in confidence, and has no fear lest when obtained it be injurious to him, seeing that, without it, anything else which he may have obtained by asking in a right way is of no advantage to him. The thing referred to is the one true and only happy life, in which, immortal and incorruptible in body and spirit, we may contemplate the joy of the Lord for ever. All other things are desired, and are without impropriety prayed for, with a view to this one thing. For whosoever has it shall have all that he wishes, and cannot possibly wish to have anything along with it which would be unbecoming. For in it is the fountain of life, which we must now thirst for in prayer so long as we live in hope, not yet seeing that which we hope for, trusting under the shadow of His wings before whom are all our desires, that we may be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of His house, and made to drink of the river of His pleasures; because with Him is the fountain of life, and in His light we shall see light,1049    Ps. xxxvi. 8–10. when our desire shall be satisfied with good things, and when there shall be nothing beyond to be sought after with groaning, but all things shall be possessed by us with rejoicing. At the same time, because this blessing is nothing else than the “peace which passeth all understanding,”1050    Phil. iv. 7. even when we are asking it in our prayers, we know not what to pray for as we ought. For inasmuch as we cannot present it to our minds as it really is, we do not know it, but whatever image of it may be presented to our minds we reject, disown, and condemn; we know it is not what we are seeking, although we do not yet know enough to be able to define what we seek.

Chap. XV.

28. There is therefore in us a certain learned ignorance, so to speak—an ignorance which we learn from that Spirit of God who helps our infirmities. For after the apostle said, “If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it,” he added in the same passage, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”1051    Rom. viii. 25–27. This is not to be understood as if it meant that the Holy Spirit of God, who is in the Trinity, God unchangeable, and is one God with the Father and the Son, intercedes for the saints like one who is not a divine person; for it is said, “He maketh intercession for the saints,” because He enables the saints to make intercession, as in another place it is said, “The Lord your God proveth you, that He may know whether ye love Him,”1052    Deut. xii. 3.i.e. that He may make you know. He therefore makes the saints intercede with groanings which cannot be uttered, when He inspires them with longings for that great blessing, as yet unknown, for which we patiently wait. For how is that which is desired set forth in language if it be unknown, for if it were utterly unknown it would not be desired; and on the other hand, if it were seen, it would not be desired nor sought for with groanings?

Chap. XVI.

29. Considering all these things, and whatever else the Lord shall have made known to you in this matter, which either does not occur to me or would take too much time to state here, strive in prayer to overcome this world: pray in hope, pray in faith, pray in love, pray earnestly and patiently, pray as a widow belonging to Christ. For although prayer is, as He has taught, the duty of all His members, i.e. of all who believe in Him and are united to His body, a more assiduous attention to prayer is found to be specially enjoined in Scripture upon those who are widows. Two women of the name of Anna are honourably named there,—the one, Elkanah’s wife, who was the mother of holy Samuel; the other, the widow who recognised the Most Holy One when He was yet a babe. The former, though married, prayed with sorrow of mind and brokenness of heart because she had no sons; and she obtained Samuel, and dedicated him to the Lord, because she vowed to do so when she prayed for him.1053    1 Sam. i. It is not easy, however, to find to what petition of the Lord’s Prayer her petition could be referred, unless it be to the last, “Deliver us from evil,” because it was esteemed to be an evil to be married and not to have offspring as the fruit of marriage. Observe, however, what is written concerning the other Anna, the widow: she “departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”1054    Luke ii. 36, 37. In like manner, the apostle said in words already quoted, “She that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day;”1055    1 Tim. v. 5. and the Lord, when exhorting men to pray always and not to faint, made mention of a widow, who, by persevering importunity, persuaded a judge to attend to her cause, though he was an unjust and wicked man, and one who neither feared God nor regarded man. How incumbent it is on widows to go beyond others in devoting time to prayer may be plainly enough seen from the fact that from among them are taken the examples set forth as an exhortation to all to earnestness in prayer.

30. Now what makes this work specially suitable to widows but their bereaved and desolate condition? Whosoever, then, understands that he is in this world bereaved and desolate as long as he is a pilgrim absent from his Lord, is careful to commit his widowhood, so to speak, to his God as his shield in continual and most fervent prayer. Pray, therefore, as a widow of Christ, not yet seeing Him whose help you implore. And though you are very wealthy, pray as a poor person, for you have not yet the true riches of the world to come, in which you have no loss to fear. Though you have sons and grandchildren, and a large household, still pray, as I said already, as one who is desolate, for we have no certainty in regard to all temporal blessings that they shall abide for our consolation even to the end of this present life. If you seek and relish the things that are above, you desire things everlasting and sure; and as long as you do not yet possess them, you ought to regard yourself as desolate, even though all your family are spared to you, and live as you desire. And if you thus act, assuredly your example will be followed by your most devout daughter-in-law,1056    Juliana, the mother of Demetrias. and the other holy widows and virgins that are settled in peace under your care; for the more pious the manner in which you order your house, the more are you bound to persevere fervently in prayer, not engaging yourselves with the affairs of this world further than is demanded in the interests of religion.

31. By all means remember to pray earnestly for me. I would not have you yield such deference to the office fraught with perils which I bear, as to refrain from giving the assistance which I know myself to need. Prayer was made by the household of Christ for Peter and for Paul. I rejoice that you are in His household; and I need, incomparably more than Peter and Paul did, the help of the prayers of the brethren. Emulate each other in prayer with a holy rivalry, with one heart, for you wrestle not against each other, but against the devil, who is the common enemy of all the saints. “By fasting, by vigils, and all mortification of the body, prayer is greatly helped.”1057    Tobit xii. 8. Let each one do what she can; what one cannot herself do, she does by another who can do it, if she loves in another that which personal inability alone hinders her from doing; wherefore let her who can do less not keep back the one who can do more, and let her who can do more not urge unduly her who can do less. For your conscience is responsible to God; to each other owe nothing but mutual love. May the Lord, who is able to do above what we ask or think, give ear to your prayers.1058    Eph. iii. 20.

EPISTOLA CXXX . Augustinus Probae viduae diviti praescribit quomodo sit orandus Deus.

0494 AUGUSTINUS episcopus servus Christi servorumque Christi, religiosae famulae Dei PROBAE , in Domino dominorum salutem.

CAPUT PRIMUM.

1. Et petisse te et promisisse me recolens, ut de orando Deo ad te aliquid scriberem, ubi tribuente ipso quem oramus, tempus facultasque concessa est, oportuit ut debitum meum jam jamque persolverem, et pio studio tuo in Christi charitate servirem. Quam me autem laetificaverit ipsa petitio tua, in qua cognovi quantam rei tantae curam geris, verbis explicare non possum. Quod enim majus oportuit esse negotium viduitatis tuae, quam persistere in oratione nocte ac die, secundum Apostoli admonitionem? ille quippe ait: Quae autem vere vidua est et desolata speravit in Domino, et persistit in oratione nocte ac die (I Tim. V, 5). Unde mirum videri potest, cum sis secundum hoc saeculum nobilis, dives, tantaeque familiae mater, et in eo licet vidua, non tamen desolata, quomodo occupaverit cor tuum praecipueque sibi vindicaverit orandi cura; nisi quia prudenter intelligis quod in hoc mundo et in hac vita nulla anima possit esse secura.

2. Proinde qui tibi eam cogitationem dedit, profecto facit quod Discipulis suis, non pro seipsis, sed pro humano genere contristatis, et desperantibus quemquam posse salvari, posteaquam ab illo audierunt facilius esse camelum intrare per foramen acus, quam divitem in regnum coelorum; mirifica et misericordissima pollicitatione respondit, Deo esse facile quod hominibus impossibile est (Matth. XIX, 24-26). Cui ergo facile est ut etiam dives intret in regnum coelorum, inspiravit tibi piam sollicitudinem, de qua me consulendum putasti quonam modo esset tibi orandum. Ille namque cum etiam hic adhuc esset in carne, Zachaeum divitem in regnum coelorum misit (Luc. XIX, 9), et resurrectione atque ascensione glorificatus, multos postea divites impartito Spiritu sancto fecit hujus saeculi contemptores, et finita divitiarum cupiditate ditiores. Quomodo enim tu sic studeres orare Deum, nisi sperares in eo? quomodo autem sperares in eo, si sperares in incerto divitiarum, et contemneres praeceptum saluberrimum, quo Apostolus ait: Praecipe divitibus hujus mundi non superbe sapere, neque sperare in incerto divitiarum, sed in Deo vivo qui praestat nobis omnia abundanter ad fruendum; ut divites sint in operibus bonis, facile tribuant, communicent, thesaurizent sibi fundamentum bonum in futurum, ut apprehendant veram vitam (I Tim. VI, 17-19)?

CAPUT II.

3. Debes itaque prae amore hujus verae vitae, etiam desolatam te putare in hoc saeculo, in quantalibet ejus felicitate verseris. Nam sicut est illa 0495 vera vita, in cujus comparatione utique ista quae multum amatur, quamlibet jucunda atque producta sit, nec vita dicenda est: sic est etiam solatium verum, quod per prophetam Dominus promittit dicens, Dabo illi solatium verum, pacem super pacem (Isai. LVII, 18, 19, sec. LXX); sine quo solatio quaecumque sunt terrena solatia, magis in eis desolatio, quam consolatio reperitur. Divitiae quippe atque fastigia dignitatum, caeteraque hujusmodi quibus felices se esse putant mortales verae illius felicitatis expertes, quid afferunt consolationis, cum sit eis non indigere quam eminere praestantius; quae plus excruciant adepta timore amissionis, quam concupita adeptionis ardore ? Talibus bonis non fiunt homines boni, sed aliunde boni facti, bene utendo faciunt ut ista sint bona. Non sunt ergo in iis vera solatia, sed ibi potius ubi vera vita. Nam inde necesse est ut fiat homo beatus, unde fit bonus.

4. Homines autem boni videntur etiam in hac vita praestare non parva solatia. Nam si paupertas angit, si luctus moestificat, si dolor corporis inquietat, si contristat exsilium, si ulla calamitas alia vexat, adsint boni homines qui non solum gaudere cum gaudentibus, verum etiam flere cum flentibus (Rom. XII, 15) norunt, et salubriter alloqui et colloqui sciunt; plurimum illa aspera leniuntur, relevantur gravia, superantur adversa. Sed ille hoc in eis et per eos agit, qui spiritu suo bonos fecit. E contra, si divitiae circumfluant, nulla orbitas accidat, adsit sanitas carnis, incolumi habitetur in patria, et cohabitent mali homines, in quibus nemo sit cui fides habeatur, a quo non dolus, fraus, irae, discordiae, insidiae timeantur, atque sustineantur; nonne illa omnia fiunt amara et dura, nec aliquid laetum vel dulce est in eis? Ita in quibuslibet rebus humanis nihil est homini amicum sine homine amico. Sed quotusquisque talis invenitur, de cujus animo et moribus sit in hac vita certa securitas? Nam sicut sibi quisque nemo alter alteri notus est; et tamen nec sibi quisque ita notus est, ut sit de sua crastina conversatione securus. Proinde quamvis ex fructibus suis multi cognoscantur, et alii quidem bene vivendo proximos laetificent, alii male vivendo contristent; tamen propter humanorum animorum ignota et incerta, rectissime Apostolus admonet ut non ante tempus quidquam judicemus, donec veniat Dominus, et illuminet abscondita tenebrarum, et manifestet cogitationes cordis, et tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo (I Cor. IV, 5).

5. In iis igitur vitae hujus tenebris, in quibus peregrinamur a Domino, quamdiu per fidem ambulamus, non per speciem (II Cor. V, 6, 7), desolatam debet se christiana anima reputare, ne desistat orare: et Scripturarum divinarum sanctarumque sermoni discat tanquam lucernae in obscuro loco positae fidei oculum intendere, donec dies lucescat, et lucifer oriatur in cordibus nostris (II Petr. I, 19). Hujus enim lucernae 0496 quidam fons ineffabilis lumen illud est, quod sic lucet in tenebris, ut non comprehendatur a tenebris, cui videndo, fide corda mundanda sunt: Beati enim mundo corde; quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt (Matth. V, 8); et, Scimus quoniam cum apparuerit, similes ei erimus, quoniam videbimus eum sicuti est (I Joan. III, 2). Tunc erit vera vita post mortem, verumque solatium post desolationem: illa vita eximet animam nostram de morte, et illud solatium oculos nostros a lacrymis; et quoniam ibi jam non erit ulla tentatio, ideo sequitur in eodem psalmo, Pedes meos a lapsu. Porro si nulla tentatio, jam nulla oratio: non enim ibi adhuc erit promissi boni exspectatio, sed redditi contemplatio; unde, Placebo, inquit, Domino in regione vivorum (Psal. CXIV, 8, 9), ubi tunc erimus, non in deserto mortuorum, ubi nunc sumus. Mortui enim estis, ait Apostolus, et vita vestra abscondita est cum Christo in Deo: cum autem Christus apparuerit vita vestra, tunc et vos apparebitis cum ipso in gloria (Coloss. III, 3, 4). Haec est enim vera vita, quam jubentur bonis operibus apprehendere divites: et ibi est verum solatium; quo solatio nunc vidua desolata, etiam quae filios et nepotes habet, et domum suam pie tractat, agens cum omnibus suis ut ponant in Deo spem suam, dicit tamen in oratione, Sitivit tibi anima mea: quam multipliciter tibi et caro mea, in terra deserta, et sine via, et sine aqua (Psal. LXII, 2, 3); quod est ista moribunda vita, quibuslibet mortalibus solatiis frequentetur, quibuslibet itinerantibus comitetur, quantalibet rerum copia cumuletur. Nosti quippe ista omnia quam incerta sint: et in illius promissae felicitatis comparatione quid essent, etiamsi incerta non essent?

6. Haec dixi, quoniam sermonem meum vidua dives et nobilis, et tantae familiae mater, de oratione quaesisti, ut etiam tecum in hac vita permanentibus et obsequentibus tuis, te sentias desolatam, nondum utique apprehensa illa vita, ubi est verum certumque solatium, ubi implebitur quod in prophetia dictum est: Satiati sumus mane misericordia tua; et exsultavimus et jucundati sumus in omnibus diebus nostris. Jucundati sumus pro diebus quibus nos humiliasti, annis quibus vidimus mala (Psal. LXXXIX, 14, 15).

CAPUT III.

7. Antequam ergo ista consolatio veniat, quantacumque temporalium bonorum felicitate circumfluas, ut persistas in orationibus die ac nocte, desolatam te esse memineris. Non enim Apostolus qualicumque viduae hoc munus tribuit: Sed quae vere, inquit, vidua est et desolata, speravit in Domino, et persistit in orationibus die ac nocte. Quod vero sequitur, vigilantissime cave, Quae autem in deliciis agit, vivens mortua est (I Tim. V, 5, 6): agit enim homo in iis quae diligit, quae pro magno appetit, quibus beatum se esse credit. Quapropter quod Scriptura dixit de divitiis, Divitiae si affluant, ne apponatis cor (Psal. LXI, 11), hoc etiam de deliciis tibi dico: Deliciae si affluant, ne apponas cor. Non ideo te magnipendas, quod non desunt, quod affatim suppetunt, quod velut ex fonte largissimo terrenae felicitatis fluunt. Omnino haec in te despice atque contemne, 0497 nec in iis quidquam requiras praeter integram corporis valetudinem. Haec enim contemnenda non est propter necessarios usus vitae, antequam mortale hoc induatur immortalitate (I Cor. XV, 54); hoc est vera et perfecta et perpetua sanitate, quae non terrena deficiens infirmitate, corruptibili voluptate reficitur, sed coelesti firmitate persistens, aeterna incorruptione vegetatur. Nam et ipse Apostolus, Carnis, inquit, providentiam ne feceritis in concupiscentiis (Rom. XIII, 14); quia gerimus curam carnis, sed ad necessitatem salutis. Nemo enim unquam carnem suam odio habuit (Eph. V, 29), sicut itidem ipse dicit. Hinc est enim quod et Timotheum, nimium, sicut apparet, corporis castigatorem admonet ut modico vino utatur, propter stomachum et frequentes suas infirmitates (I Tim. V, 23).

8. Has ergo delicias, in quibus vidua si agit, hoc est, si delectatione cordis haeret atque habitat, vivens mortua est, multi sancti et sanctae omni modo caventes, ipsas velut matres deliciarum divitias dispergendo pauperibus abjecerunt, et tali modo in coelestibus thesauris tutius condiderunt. Quod si tu devincta aliquo pietatis officio non facis, tu scis quam de iis rationem reddas Deo. Nemo enim scit quid agatur in homine, nisi spiritus hominis qui in ipso est (I Cor. II, 11). Nos non debemus ante tempus quidquam judicare, donec veniat Dominus, qui et illuminabit abscondita tenebrarum, et manifestabit cogitationes cordis, et tunc laus erit unicuique a Deo (Ibid. IV, 5). Pertinet tamen ad vidualem curam tuam, deliciae si affluant, ne apponas cor, ne in eis putrescendo moriatur quod sursum esse debet ut vivat. Te in illorum numero deputato, de quibus scriptum est: Vivent corda eorum in saeculum saeculi (Psal. XXI, 27).

CAPUT IV.

9. Audisti qualis ores, nunc audi et quid ores, unde me maxime consulendum putasti, quoniam te permovet quod ait Apostolus, Quid enim oremus, sicut oportet nescimus (Rom. VIII, 26); et timuisti ne magis tibi obsit, non sicut oportet orare, quam non orare. Quod itaque dici breviter potest, ora beatam vitam: hanc enim habere omnes homines volunt; nam et qui pessime et perdite vivunt, nullo modo ita viverent, nisi eodem modo se esse vel posse fieri beatos putarent. Quid ergo aliud oportet te orare, nisi id quod cupiunt et mali et boni, sed ad quod perveniunt non nisi boni?

CAPUT V.

10. Hic fortasse jam quaeras quid sit ipsa beata vita. In qua quaestione multorum philosophorum ingenia otiaque contrita sunt, qui tamen eam tanto minus invenire potuerunt, quanto minus ejus fontem honoraverunt, eique gratias non egerunt. Prius itaque attende, utrum acquiescendum sit eis qui dicunt eum beatum esse qui secundum suam vivit voluntatem. Sed absit ut hoc verum esse credamus: quid si enim nequiter velit vivere? Nonne tanto miserior esse convincitur, quanto facilius mala ejus voluntas 0498 impletur? Merito hanc sententiam etiam ipsi qui sine cultu Dei philosophati sunt, respuerunt. Nam quidam eorum vir eloquentissimus ait: Ecce autem alii non philosophi quidem, sed prompti tamen ad disputandum, omnes aiunt esse beatos qui vivunt ut ipsi velint. Falsum id quidem: velle enim quod non deceat, idem ipsum miserrimum; nec tam miserum est non adipisci quod velis, quam adipisci velle quod non oporteat (Cicero, in Hortensio). Quid tibi videtur? haec verba nonne ab ipsa veritate per quemlibet hominem dicta sunt? Possumus ergo hic dicere quod Apostolus ait de quodam propheta Cretensi, cum ejus illi sententia placuisset: Testimonium hoc verum est (Tit. I, 13).

11. Ille igitur beatus est, qui omnia quae vult habet, nec aliquid vult quod non decet. Quod si ita est, vide jam quae homines non indecenter velint. Alius vult conjugari, alius conjugio viduatus deinceps continenter eligit vivere, alius nullum concubitum nec in ipsis nuptiis experiri. Et si aliud hic alio melius reperitur, nullum tamen istorum possumus dicere indecenter aliquid velle: sic et optare filios, nuptiarum scilicet fructum, et eis qui suscepti fuerint vitam ac salutem, quo voto plerumque occupatur etiam continentia vidualis; nam etsi spreto conjugio jam non optant etiam filios procreare, optant tamen quos procreaverunt incolumes vivere. Ab hac omni cura immunis est virginalis integritas. Habent tamen omnes charos, et charas, quibus non indecenter optant etiam temporalem salutem. Sed cum istam salutem in seipsis et in eis quos diligunt adepti homines fuerint, num poterimus eos dicere jam beatos? Habent enim aliquid quod non dedecet velle; sed si alia non habent majora atque meliora et utilitatis decorisque pleniora, adhuc a beata vita longe absunt.

CAPUT VI.

12. Placetne igitur ut super salutem istam temporalem optent sibi ac suis honores et potestates? Sane, si ut per hoc consulant eis qui vivunt sub eis, non propter haec ipsa, sed propter aliud quod inde fit bonum, decet ea velle: si autem propter inanem fastum elationis pompamque superfluam vel etiam noxiam vanitatis, non decet. Quocirca si optant sibi ac suis etiam sufficientiam rerum necessariarum, de qua sic Apostolus loquitur, Est autem quaestus magnus pietas cum sufficientia. Nihil enim intulimus in hunc mundum, sed nec auferre hinc aliquid possumus: victum et legumentum habentes, his contenti simus. Nam qui volunt divites fieri, incidunt in tentationem et laqueum et desideria multa stulta et noxia, quae mergunt homines in interitum et perditionem. Radix enim omnium malorum est avaritia; quam quidam appetentes a fide erraverunt, et inseruerunt se doloribus multis (I Tim. VI, 6-10): hanc ergo sufficientiam non indecenter vult, quisquis vult, nec amplius vult; alioquin non ipsam vult, et ideo nec decenter vult. Hanc optabat et pro hac orabat qui dicebat: Divitias et paupertatem ne dederis mihi; constitue autem mihi quae necessaria sunt sufficienter, ut ne satiatus mendax efficiar, et dicam, Quis me videt? aut pauper factus furer, et perjurem nomen Dei mei (Prov. XXX, 8, 9). Vides certe et istam sufficientiam 0499 non appeti propter seipsam, sed propter salutem corporis, et congruentem habitum personae hominis, quo habitu non sit inconveniens eis cum quibus honeste officioseque vivendum est.

13. In his itaque omnibus incolumitas hominis et amicitia propter seipsa appetuntur; sufficientia vero rerum necessariarum non propter seipsam, sed propter duo superiora quaeri solet, cum decenter quaeritur. Incolumitas porro in ipsa vita, ac salute, atque integritate animi et corporis constituta est. Itemque amicitia non angustis finibus terminanda est: omnes enim quibus amor et dilectio debetur, amplectitur, quamvis in alios propensius, in alios suspensius inclinetur; pervenit autem usque ad inimicos, pro quibus etiam orare praecipimur. Ita nemo est in genere humano cui non dilectio, etsi non pro mutua charitate, pro ipsa tamen communis naturae societate debeatur.

CAPUT VII.

Sed ii nos multum justeque delectant, a quibus vicissim sancte casteque diligimur. Ista cum habentur, ut teneantur, cum autem non habentur, ut habeantur, orandum est.

14. Hoccine totum, et haec sunt omnia quibus beatae summa vitae colligitur? an aliquid aliud veritas docet quod his omnibus praeferatur? Nam et illa sufficientia, et ipsa incolumitas, vel propria vel amicorum, quamdiu temporalis est, pro aeternae vitae adeptione abjicienda est: quanquam fortasse corpus, animus vero nullo modo sanus existimandus est, qui non temporalibus aeterna praeponit; neque enim in tempore utiliter vivitur, nisi ad comparandum meritum quo in aeternitate vivatur. Ad illam ergo unam vitam, qua cum Deo et de Deo vivitur, caetera quae utiliter et decenter optantur, sine dubio referenda sunt. In eo quippe nosmetipsos diligimus, si Deum diligimus: et ex alio praecepto proximos nostros sicut nosmetipsos ita vere diligimus, si eos ad Dei similem dilectionem, quantum in nobis est, perducamus. Deum igitur diligimus propter seipsum, et nos ac proximos propter ipsum: nec cum ita vivimus, jam nos in ipsa beata vita constitutos existimemus, quasi nihil sit amplius quod oremus. Quomodo enim jam beate vivimus, cum illud adhuc desit, propter quod unum bene vivimus?

CAPUT VIII.

15. Utquid ergo per multa dispergimur, et quaerimus quid oremus, timentes ne forte sicut non oportet oremus, ac non potius cum Psalmo dicimus: Unam petii a Domino, hanc requiram; ut habitem in domo Domini omnes dies vitae meae; ut contempler delectationem Dei, et visitem templum ejus (Psal. XXVI, 4)? Ibi namque omnes dies non veniendo et transeundo fiunt omnes, nec initium alterius est finis alterius; omnes sine fine simul sunt, ubi nec ipsa vita habet finem, cujus illi dies sunt. Propter hanc adipiscendam vitam beatam ipsa vera Vita beata nos orare docuit, non in multiloquio, tanquam eo fiat ut exaudiamur quo loquaciores sumus, cum eum oremus qui novit, sicut ipse Dominus ait, quid nobis necessarium sit, priusquam petamus ab eo (Matth. VI, 7, 8). Unde mirum videri potest, quamvis multiloquium prohibuerit, cur nos sic orare adhortatus 0500 sit, qui novit quid nobis necessarium sit, priusquam petamus ab eo, ut diceret, Oportet semper orare, et non deficere; viduae cujusdam proposito exemplo, quae de suo adversario cupiens vindicari, judicem iniquum saepe interpellando flexit ad audiendum, non justitia vel misericordia permotum, sed taedio superatum: ut hinc admoneremur, quam certius nos exaudiat misericors et justus Dominus Deus sine intermissione orantes, quando illa nec ab iniquo et impio judice potuit assidua interpellatione contemni; et quam libens atque placatus bona desideria impleat eorum, a quibus aliena peccata novit ignosci, si quo cupiebat illa pervenit quae voluit vindicari (Luc. XVIII, 1-8). Ille quoque cui amicus de via venerat, nec quod ei apponeret habebat, ab amico sibi tres panes cupiens commodari, quibus fortasse ipsa Trinitas unius substantiae figurata est, jam cum suis servis dormientem petitor instantissimus et molestissimus excitavit, ut daret ei quantos volebat, magis et ipse vitando taedium quam benevolentiam cogitando: ut hinc intelligeremus, si dare cogitur qui cum dormiat, a petente excitatur invitus, quanto det benignius qui nec dormire novit, et dormientes nos excitat ut petamus.

16. Hinc est et illud: Petite et accipietis; quaerite et invenietis; pulsate et aperietur vobis. Omnis enim qui petit accipit, et quaerens invenit, et pulsanti aperietur. Aut quis est ex vobis homo, a quo filius suus panem petit, numquid lapidem porrigit ei? aut si piscem petit, numquid serpentem porrigit illi? aut si ovum petit, numquid porrigit ei scorpium? Si ergo vos, cum sitis mali, nostis bona data dare filiis vestris, quanto magis Pater vester coelestis dabit bona petentibus se (Id. XI, 5-13)? Cum ergo secundum tria illa quae commendat Apostolus, fides significetur in pisce, vel propter aquam Baptismi, vel quod in hujus saeculi fluctibus integra est; cui contrarius est ille serpens, qui ut non crederetur Deo, venenosa fraude persuasit: spes in ovo, quia vita pulli nondum est, sed futura est, nec jam videtur, sed adhuc speratur; spes enim quae videtur, non est spes (Rom. VIII, 24); cui contrarius est scorpius, quoniam qui sperat aeternam vitam, quae retro sunt obliviscitur, et in anteriora se extendit; cui noxium est retro respicere; scorpius autem ex ea parte cavendus est, quam venenatam et aculeatam retrorsum habet: charitas in pane; major enim horum charitas (I Cor. XIII. 13), et in cibis utique vincit caetera panis utilitas; cui contrarius est lapis, quoniam dura corda respuunt charitatem: sive aliud aliquid congruentius ista significent, tamen qui novit bona data dare filiis suis, petere nos et quaerere et pulsare compellit.

17. Quod quare faciat, qui novit quid nobis necessarium sit, priusquam petamus ab eo, movere animum potest, nisi intelligamus quod Dominus et Deus noster non voluntatem nostram sibi velit innotescere, quam non potest ignorare; sed exerceri in orationibus desiderium nostrum, quo possimus capere quod praeparat dare. Illud enim valde magnum est, sed nos ad capiendum parvi et angusti sumus. Ideo nobis dicitur: 0501 Dilatamini; ne sitis jugum ducentes cum infidelibus (II Cor. VI, 13, 14). Tanto quippe illud quod valde magnum est, quod nec oculus vidit, quia non est color; nec auris audivit, quia non est sonus; nec in cor hominis ascendit (I Cor. II, 9), quia cor hominis illuc debet ascendere, sumemus capacius, quanto id et fidelius credimus, et speramus firmius, et desideramus ardentius.

CAPUT IX.

18. In ipsa ergo fide et spe et charitate continuato desiderio semper oramus. Sed ideo per certa intervalla horarum et temporum etiam verbis rogamus Deum, ut illis rerum signis nos ipsos admoneamus, quantumque in hoc desiderio profecerimus nobis ipsis innotescamus, et ad hoc augendum nos ipsos acrius excitemus. Dignior enim sequetur effectus, quem ferventior praecedit affectus. Ac per hoc et quod ait Apostolus, Sine intermissione orate (I Thess. V, 17), quid est aliud quam, Beatam vitam, quae nulla nisi aeterna est, ab eo qui eam solus dare potest, sine intermissione desiderate? Semper ergo hanc a Domino Deo desideremus, et oremus semper. Sed ideo ab aliis curis atque negotiis, quibus ipsum desiderium quodammodo repescit, certis horis ad negotium orandi mentem revocamus, verbis orationis nos ipsos admonentes in id quod desideramus, intendere, ne quod tepescere coeperat, omnino frigescat, et penitus exstinguatur, nisi crebrius inflammetur. Unde et illud quod idem apostolus ait, Postulationes vestrae innotescant apud Deum (Philipp. IV, 6), non sic accipiendum est, tanquam Deo innotescant, qui eas et antequam essent utique noverat, sed nobis innotescant apud Deum per tolerantiam, non apud homines per jactantiam. Aut forte etiam innotescant Angelis qui sunt apud Deum, ut quodammodo eas offerant Deo, et de his consulant, et quod eo jubente implendum esse cognoverint, sicut oportere ibi cognoverint, hoc nobis vel evidenter vel latenter apportent: dixit enim angelus homini: Et nunc quando orabas tu et Sara, ego obtuli orationem vestram in conspectu claritatis Dei (Tob. XII, 12).

CAPUT X.

19. Quae cum ita sint, etiam cum diu orare vacat, id est cum alia bonarum et necessariarum actionum non impediuntur officia, quamvis et in eis, ut dixi, desiderio illo semper orandum sit, non est improbum nec inutile. Neque enim, ut nonnulli putant, hoc est orare in multiloquio, si diutius oretur. Aliud est sermo multus, aliud diuturnus affectus. Nam et de ipso Domino scriptum est quod pernoctaverit in orando (Luc. VI, 12), et quod prolixius oraverit (Id. XXII, 43): ubi quid aliud quam nobis praebebat exemplum, in tempore precator opportunus, cum Patre exauditor aeternus?

20. Dicuntur fratres in Aegypto crebras quidem habere orationes, sed eas tamen brevissimas, et raptim quodammodo jaculatas, ne illa vigilanter erecta, quae oranti plurimum necessaria est, per productiores moras evanescat atque hebetetur intentio. Ac per hoc etiam ipsi satis ostendunt, hanc intentionem, sicut non est obtundenda, si perdurare non potest, ita si perduraverit, 0502 non cito esse rumpendam. Absit enim ab oratione multa locutio, sed non desit multa precatio, si fervens perseverat intentio. Nam multum loqui, est in orando rem necessariam superfluis agere verbis. Multum autem precari, est ad eum quem precamur, diuturna et pia cordis excitatione pulsare. Nam plerumque hoc negotium plus gemitibus quam sermonibus agitur, plus fletu quam affatu. Ponit autem lacrymas nostras in conspectu suo, et gemitus noster non est absconditus ab eo qui omnia per Verbum condidit, et humana verba non quaerit.

CAPUT XI.

21. Nobis ergo verba necessaria sunt, quibus commoneamur et inspiciamus quid petamus, non quibus Dominum seu docendum seu flectendum esse credamus. Cum ergo dicimus, Sanctificetur nomen tuum, nos ipsos admonemus desiderare ut nomen ejus quod semper sanctum est, etiam apud homines sanctum habeatur, hoc est non contemnatur; quod non Deo, sed hominibus prodest. Et in eo quod dicimus, Adveniat regnum tuum, quod seu velimus, seu nolimus, utique veniet, desiderium nostrum ad illud regnum excitamus, ut nobis veniat, atque nos in eo regnare mereamur. Cum dicimus, Fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo et in terra, nobis ab illo precamur ipsam obedientiam, ut sic a nobis fiat voluntas ejus, quemadmodum fit in coelestibus ab Angelis ejus. Cum dicimus, Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie; per id quod dicitur hodie, significatur hoc tempore, ubi vel illam sufficientiam petimus, a parte quae excellit, id est nomine panis totam significantes; vel Sacramentum fidelium, quod in hoc tempore necessarium est, non tamen ad hujus temporis, sed ad illam aeternam felicitatem assequendam. Cum dicimus, Dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris, nos admonemus et quid petamus, et quid faciamus, ut accipere mereamur. Cum dicimus, Ne nos inferas in tentationem, nos admonemus hoc petere, ne deserti ejus adjutorio alicui tentationi vel consentiamus decepti, vel cedamus afflicti. Cum dicimus, Libera nos a malo (Matth. VI, 9-13), nos admonemus cogitare, nondum nos esse in eo bono ubi nullum patiemur malum. Et hoc quidem ultimum quod in dominica oratione positum est, tam late patet, ut homo christianus in qualibet tribulatione constitutus in hoc gemitus edat, in hoc lacrymas fundat, hinc exordiatur, in hoc immoretur, ad hoc terminet orationem. His enim verbis res ipsas memoriae nostrae commendari oportebat.

CAPUT XII.

22. Nam quaelibet alia verba dicamus, quae affectus orantis vel praecedendo format ut clareat, vel consequendo attendit ut crescat; nihil aliud dicimus quam quod in ista dominica oratione positum est, si recte et congruenter oramus. Quisquis autem id dicit quod ad istam evangelicam precem pertinere non possit, etiamsi non illicite orat, carnaliter orat: quod nescio quemadmodum non dicatur illicite, quandoquidem spiritu renatos nonnisi spiritualiter decet orare. Qui enim dicit, verbi gratia, Clarificare in omnibus gentibus, sicut clarificatus es in nobis: et, Prophetae tui fideles inveniantur (Eccli. XXXVI, 4, 18); 0503 quid aliud dicit quam, Sanctificetur nomen tuum? Qui dicit, Deus virtutum, converte nos, et ostende faciem tuam, et salvi erimus (Psal. LXXIX, 4); quid aliud dicit quam, Veniat regnum tuum? Qui dicit, Itinera mea dirige secundum verbum tuum, et ne dominetur mei omnis iniquitas (Psal. CXVIII, 133); quid aliud dicit quam, Fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo et in terra? Qui dicit, Paupertatem et divitias ne dederis mihi (Prov. XXX, 8); quid aliud dicit quam, Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie? Qui dicit, Memento, Domine, David, et omnis mansuetudinis ejus (Psal. CXXXI, 1): aut, Domine, si feci istud, si est iniquitas in manibus meis, si reddidi retribuentibus mihi mala (Psal. VII, 4); quid aliud dicit quam, Dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris? Qui dicit, Aufer a me concupiscentias ventris, et desiderium concubitus ne apprehendat me (Eccli. XXIII, 6); quid aliud dicit quam, Ne nos inferas in tentationem? Qui dicit, Erue me ab inimicis meis, Deus, et ab insurgentibus super me libera me (Psal. LVIII, 2); quid aliud dicit quam, Libera nos a malo? Et si per omnia precationum sanctarum verba discurras, quantum existimo, nihil invenies quod in ista dominica non contineatur et concludatur oratione. Unde liberum est aliis atque aliis verbis, eadem tamen in orando dicere; sed non debet esse liberum alia dicere.

23. Haec et pro nobis, et pro nostris, et pro alienis, atque pro ipsis inimicis sine fluctu dubitationis oranda sunt: quamvis alius pro isto, alius pro illo, sicut se habent propinquitates vel longinquitates necessitudinum, in corde orantis oriatur aut excellat affectus. Qui autem dicit in oratione, verbi gratia, Domine, multiplica divitas meas; aut, Da mihi tantas quantas illi vel illi dedisti; aut, Honores meos auge, fac me in hoc saeculo praepotentem atque clarentem, vel si quid hujusmodi est; et haec dicit, eorum habens concupiscentiam, non id attendens, ut ex his secundum Deum prosit hominibus: puto eum non invenire in oratione dominica quo possit haec vota coaptare. Quamobrem pudeat saltem petere quae non pudet cupere; aut si et hoc pudet, sed cupiditas vincit, quanto melius hoc petitur, ut etiam ab isto cupiditatis malo liberet, cui dicimus, Libera nos a malo!

CAPUT XIII.

24. Habes, quantum arbitror, non solum qualis ores, verum etiam quid ores; non me docente, sed illo qui omnes nos docere dignatus est. Beata vita quaerenda est, haec a Domino Deo petenda est. Quid sit beatum esse, a multis multa sunt disputata; sed nos ad multos et ad multa utquid imus? Breviter in Scriptura Dei veraciterque dictum est: Beatus populus cujus est Dominus Deus ipsius (Psal. CXLIII, 15). In ipso populo ut simus, atque ad eum contemplandum et cum eo sine fine vivendum pervenire possimus, finis praecepti est charitas de corde puro, et conscientia bona, et fide non ficta (I Tim. I, 5). In eisdem tribus, pro conscientia bona spes posita est. Fides ergo et spes et charitas ad Deum perducunt orantem, hoc est credentem, sperantem, desiderantem, et quae petat a Domino in dominica oratione 0504 considerantem. Jejunia et ab aliis voluptatibus sine salutis neglectu carnalis concupiscentiae refrenatio, maxime que eleemosynae multum adjuvant orationem, ut possimus dicere: In die tribulationis meae Deum exquisivi, manibus meis, nocte coram eo; et non sum deceptus (Psal. LXXVI, 3). Quomodo enim Deus incorporalis et impalpabilis manibus exquiritur, nisi operibus exquiratur?

CAPUT XIV.

25. Adhuc est fortasse quod quaeras, cur Apostolus dixerit, Quid enim oremus sicut oportet, nescimus (Rom. VIII, 26): neque enim ullo modo credendum est vel ipsum, vel quibus ista dicebat, dominicam nescisse orationem. Cur ergo putamus hoc eum dixisse quod nec temere potuit nec mendaciter dicere, nisi quia molestiae tribulationesque temporales plerumque prosunt, vel ad sanandum tumorem superbiae, vel ad probandam exercendamve patientiam, cui probatae et exercitatae clarior merces uberiorque servatur, vel ad quaecumque flagellanda et abolenda peccata; tamen nos nescientes quid ista prosint, ab omni tribulatione optamus liberari? Ab hac ignorantia nec seipsum Apostolus ostendit alienum, nisi forte quid oraret, sicut oportet, sciebat, quando in revelationum magnitudine ne extolleretur datus est illi stimulus carnis, angelus satanae, qui eum colaphizaret; propter quod ter Dominum rogavit ut eum auferret ab eo, utique, sicut oportet, nesciens quid oraret. Denique Dei responsum cur non fieret quod vir tantus orabat, et quare fieri non expediret, audivit: Sufficit tibi gratia mea; nam virtus in infirmitate perficitur (II Cor. XII, 7-9).

26. In his ergo tribulationibus quae possunt et prodesse et nocere, quid oremus, sicut oportet, nescimus: et tamen quia dura, quia molesta, quia contra sensum nostrae infirmitatis sunt, universali humana voluntate, ut a nobis haec auferantur, oramus. Sed hoc devotionis debemus Domino Deo nostro, ut si ea non abstulerit, non ideo nos ab eo negligi existimemus, sed potius pia patientia malorum, bona speremus ampliora: sic enim virtus in infirmitate perficitur. Nonnullis quippe impatientibus Dominus Deus quod petebant concessit iratus, sicut contra Apostolo negavit propitius. Nam legimus Israelitae quid et quomodo rogaverint et acceperint; sed expleta concupiscentia, impatientia est graviter castigata (Num. XI). Dedit et regem petentibus secundum cor eorum, sicut scriptum est, non secundum cor suum (I Reg. VIII, 5, 7). Dedit etiam quod diabolus postulavit, ut probandus ejus famulus tentaretur (Job. I, 12, et II, 6). Exaudivit rogantes et immundos spiritus, ut in multos sues legio daemonum mitteretur (Luc. VIII, 32). Haec scripta sunt, ne forte se quisque magnipendat, si fuerit exauditus, cum aliquid impatienter petit, quod non impetrare plus prosit; aut se abjiciat, et de divina erga se miseratione desperet, si non exaudiatur, cum forte aliquid petit, quo accipiendo affligatur atrocius, vel a prosperitate corruptus penitus evertatur. In talibus ergo quid oremus, sicut oportet, nescimus. Unde si aliquid contra quam oramus acciderit, patienter 0505 ferendo, et in omnibus gratias agendo, hoc potius oportuisse quod Dei, non quod nostra voluntas habuit, minime dubitare debemus. Nam et hujusmodi exemplum praebuit nobis ille mediator, qui cum dixisset, Pater, si fieri potest, transeat a me calix iste, humanam in se voluntatem ex hominis susceptione transformans, continuo subjecit: Verum non quod ego volo, sed quod tu vis, Pater (Matth. XXVI, 39). Unde non immerito per unius obedientiam justi constituuntur multi (Rom. V, 19).

27. Quisquis autem illam unam petit a Domino, et hanc requirit (Psal. XXVI, 4), certus ac securus petit, nec timet ne forte obsit cum acceperit, sine qua nihil prodest quidquid aliud orando, sicut oportet, acceperit. Ipsa est enim una vera et sola beata vita, ut contemplemur Domini delectationem in aeternum, immortales atque incorruptibiles corpore et spiritu. Propter hanc unam caetera requiruntur, et non indecenter petuntur. Istam quisquis habuerit, omnia quae vult habebit, nec aliquid ibi velle habere poterit quod non decebit. Ibi quippe est fons vitae, quem sitire nunc oportet in oratione, quamdiu in spe vivimus, et quod speramus nondum videmus, in protectione alarum ejus, ante quem est omne desiderium nostrum, ut inebriemur ab ubertate domus ejus, et torrente voluptatis ejus potemur; quoniam apud eum est fons vitae, et in lumine ejus videbimus lumen (Psal. XXXV, 8-10), quando satiabitur in bonis desiderium nostrum, et nihil erit ultra quod gemendo quaeramus, sed quod gaudendo teneamus. Verumtamen quia ipsa est pax quae praecellit omnem intellectum, etiam ipsam in oratione poscendo, quid oremus, sicut oportet, nescimus. Quod enim sicuti est cogitare non possumus, utique nescimus; sed quidquid cogitanti occurrerit, abjicimus, respuimus, improbamus, non hoc esse quod quaerimus novimus, quamvis illud nondum quale sit noverimus.

CAPUT XV.

28. Est ergo in nobis quaedam, ut ita dicam, docta ignorantia, sed docta spiritu Dei qui adjuvat infirmitatem nostram. Nam cum dixisset Apostolus, Si autem quod non videmus speramus, per patientiam exspectamus; ibi subjecit: Similiter et Spiritus adjuvat infirmitatem nostram: quid enim oremus, sicut oportet, nescimus; sed ipse Spiritus interpellat pro nobis gemitibus inenarrabilibus. Qui autem scrutatur corda, scit quid Spiritus sapiat, quia secundum Deum interpellat pro sanctis (Rom. VIII, 25-27). Quod non sic est intelligendum, ut existimemus sanctum Spiritum Dei, qui in Trinitate incommutabilis Deus est, et cum Patre et Filio unus Deus, tanquam aliquem qui non sit quod Deus est, interpellare pro sanctis: dictum quippe est, Interpellat pro sanctis, quia interpellare sanctos facit; sicut dictum est, Tentat vos Dominus Deus vester, ut sciat si diligatis eum (Deut. XIII, 3), hoc est ut scire vos faciat. Interpellare itaque sanctos facit gemitibus inenarrabilibus, inspirans eis desiderium etiam adhuc incognitae tantae rei quam per patientiam exspectamus. Quomodo enim narratur, quando desideratur, quod ignoratur? nam utique si 0506 omnimodo ignoraretur, non desideraretur; et rursus, si videretur, non desideraretur, nec gemitibus quaereretur.

CAPUT XVI.

29. Haec omnia considerans, et si quid aliud de hac re tibi Dominus insinuaverit, quod vel mihi non occurrit, vel dici a me longum fuit, concerta in oratione vincere hoc saeculum; ora in spe, ora fideliter et amanter, ora instanter atque patienter, ora sicut vidua Christi. Quamvis enim ad omnia membra ejus, hoc est ad omnes qui in eum credunt, et ejus corpori sociantur, sicut docuit, orare pertineat, specialiter tamen diligentior cura orationum in Scripturis ejus viduis invenitur injuncta. Nam duae fuerunt Annae honorabiliter nominatae, una conjugata quae sanctum Samuelem peperit, alia vidua quae Sanctum sanctorum, cum adhuc infans esset, agnovit. Oravit et conjugata in dolore animi et afflictione cordis, quia filios non habebat: tunc ipsum Samuelem impetravit, et acceptum Deo reddidit, quia cum posceret, vovit (I Reg. 1). Sed oratio ejus quomodo ad orationem illam dominicam pertineat, non facile reperitur, nisi quia in eo quod ibi positum est, Libera nos a malo, non parvum malum videbatur, et nuptam esse, et fructu carere nuptiarum, cum sola excuset nuptias procreandorum causa filiorum. De illa vero Anna vidua vide quid scriptum sit: Quia non discedebat de templo, jejuniis et obsecrationibus serviens nocte ac die (Luc. II, 36, 37). Nec aliunde Apostolus, quod et supra commemoravi: Quae autem vere vidua est, inquit, et desolata, speravit in Domino, et persistit in orationibus nocte ac die (I Tim. V, 5): et Dominus cum semper ad orandum, et non deficiendum nos hortaretur, viduam commemoravit, quae licet iniquum et impium judicem, ac Dei et hominum contemptorem, ad audiendam causam suam assidue interpellando convertit. Quam ergo prae caeteris viduae debent vacare orationibus, satis hinc intelligi potest, quod omnibus ad suscipiendum orandi studium de viduis propositum est exhortationis exemplum.

30. Quid autem in hoc operis genere in viduis electum est, nisi destitutio et desolatio? Quapropter si se omnis anima intelligat in hoc saeculo destitutam atque desolatam, quamdiu peregrinatur a Domino, profecto quamdam viduitatem suam Deo defensori assidua et impensissima precatione commendat. Ora ergo ut vidua Christi, nondum habens ejus conspectum, cujus precaris auxilium. Et licet sis ditissima, sicut pauper ora: nondum enim veras futuri saeculi divitias habes, ubi nulla damna formides. Licet habeas filios et nepotes, numerosamque familiam, quod et supra dictum est, sicut desolata ora: incerta sunt enim omnia temporalia, etiam usque in finem vitae hujus in nostram consolationem mansura. Tu autem si ea quae sursum sunt quaeris et sapis, aeterna et certa desideras, quae quamdiu nondum habes, etiam salvis omnibus atque obsequentibus tuis, tanquam desolatam deputare te debes. Et si tu, profecto etiam tuo exemplo religiosissima nurus tua, et aliae sanctae viduae virginesque sub vestra cura securius constitutae: 0507 quanto enim magis domum vestram pie tractatis, tanto impensius orationibus instare debetis, rerum praesentium non occupatae negotiis, nisi quae flagitat causa pietatis.

31. Sane memineritis et pro nobis non negligenter orare. Nolumus enim sic nobis honorem, quem periculosum gerimus, deferatis, ut adjutorium, quod necessarium novimus, auferatis. A familia Christi oratum est pro Petro, oratum est pro Paulo; et vos in ejus familia esse gaudemus, et incomparabiliter plus quam Petrus et Paulus orationum fraternarum auxiliis indigemus. Orate certatim concordi sanctoque certamine: non enim adversus alterutrum certatis, sed adversus diabolum, sanctis omnibus inimicum. In jejuniis et vigiliis, et omni castigatione corporis quamplurimum adjuvatur oratio (Tob. XII, 8). Faciat quaeque vestrum quod poterit: quod altera minus potest, in ea quae potest facit, si in altera diligit quod ideo quia non potest ipsa non facit; proinde quae minus valet, non impediat plus valentem, et quae plus valet, non urgeat minus valentem. Conscientiam quippe vestram Deo debetis; nemini autem vestrum aliquid debeatis, nisi ut invicem diligatis. Exaudiat te Dominus, qui potens est facere supra quam petimus aut intelligimus (Ephes. III, 20).