登陆注册
5388500000022

第22章 THE TREATISE(16)

XI. All this has been said of prayer for personal needs, and of prayer in general. But the prayer which really belongs to this Commandment and is called a work of the Holy Day, is far better and greater, and is to be made for all Christendom, for all the need of all men, of foe and friend, especially for those who belong to the parish or bishopric.

Thus St. Paul commanded his disciple Timothy: exhort thee, that thou see to it, that prayers and intercessions be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour." For this reason Jeremiah, chapter xxix, commanded the people of Israel to pray for the city and land of Babylon, because in the peace thereof they should have peace. And Baruch i: "Pray for the life of the king of Babylon and for the life of his son, that we may live in peace under their rule."This common prayer is precious and the most powerful, and it is for its sake that we come together. For this reason also the Church is called a House of Prayer, because in it we are as a congregation with one accord to consider our need and the needs of all men, present them before God, and call upon Him for mercy.

But this must be done with heart-felt emotion and sincerity, so that we feel in our hearts the need of all men, and that we pray with true sympathy for them, in true faith and confidence. Where such prayers are not made in the mass, it were better to omit the mass. For what sense is there in our coming together into a House of Prayer, which coming together shows that we should make common prayer and petition for the entire congregation, if we scatter these prayers, and so distribute them that everyone prays only for himself, and no one has regard for the other, nor concerns himself for another's need? How can that prayer be of help, good, acceptable and a common prayer, or a work of the Holy Day and of the assembled congregation, which they make who make their own petty prayers, one for this, the other for that, and have nothing but self-seeking, selfish prayers, which God hates?

XII. A suggestion of this common prayer has been retained from ancient practice, when at the end of the sermon the Confession of Sins is said and prayer is made on the pulpit for all Christendom. But this should not be the end of the matter, as is now the custom and fashion; it should be an exhortation to pray throughout the entire mass for such need as the preacher makes us feel; and in order that we may pray worthily, he first exhorts us because of our sin, and thereby makes us humble. This should be done as briefly as possible, that then the entire congregation may confess their own sin and pray for every one with earnestness and faith.

Oh, if God granted that any congregation at all heard mass and prayed in this way, so that a common earnest heart-cry of the entire people would rise up to God, what immeasurable virtue and help would result from such a prayer! What more terrible thing could happen to all the evil spirits? What greater work could be done on earth, whereby so many pious souls would be preserved, so many sinners converted?

For, indeed, the Christian Church on earth has no greater power or work than such common prayer against everything that may oppose it. This the evil spirit knows well, and therefore he does all that he can to prevent such prayer. Gleefully he lets us go on building churches, endowing many monastic houses, making music, reading, singing, observing many masses, and multiplying ceremonies beyond all measure. This does not grieve him, nay, he helps us do it, that we may consider such things the very best, and think that thereby we have done our whole duty. But in that meanwhile this common, effectual and fruitful prayer perishes and its omission is unnoticed because of such display, in this he has what he seeks. For when prayer languishes, no one will take anything from him, and no one will withstand him. But if he noticed that we wished to practise this prayer, even if it were under a straw roof or in a pig-sty, he would indeed not endure it, but would fear such a pig-sty far more than all the high, big and beautiful churches, towers and bells in existence, if such prayer be not in them. It is indeed not a question of the places and buildings in which we assemble, but only of this unconquerable prayer, that we pray it and bring it before God as a truly common prayer.

XIII. The power of this prayer we see in the fact that in olden times Abraham prayed for the five cities, Sodom, Gomorrah, etc., Genesis xviii, and accomplished so much, that if there had been ten righteous people in them, two in each city, God would not have destroyed them. What then could many men do, if they united in calling upon God earnestly and with sincere confidence?

St. James also says: "Dear brethren, pray for one another, that ye may be saved. For the prayer of a righteous man availeth much, a prayer that perseveres and does not cease" (that is, which does not cease asking ever more and more, although what it asks is not immediately granted, as some timid men do). And as an example in this matter he sets before us Elijah, the Prophet, "who was a man," he says, "as we are, and prayed, that it might not rain;and it rained not by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and it rained, and everything became fruitful."There are many texts and examples in the Scriptures which urge us to pray, only that it be done with earnestness and faith. As David says, "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry." Again, "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth." Why does he add, "call upon Him in truth"? Because that is not prayer nor calling upon God when the mouth alone mumbles.

同类推荐
  • 治安文献

    治安文献

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 净名玄论

    净名玄论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • LEGENDS AND LYRICS - SECOND SERIES

    LEGENDS AND LYRICS - SECOND SERIES

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Lesser Hippias

    Lesser Hippias

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大方广佛华严经金师子章

    大方广佛华严经金师子章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 快穿世界之我想活下去

    快穿世界之我想活下去

    叶灵的生命里只有一件事:工作。并为此而生。可是有一天,一切都不再一样。某某人说,你要嫁人吗?我不错呀?又遇上一个人,看着她,无奈的叹气:你能不能别么蠢?小王爷瞪她:你有什么企图!快说!叶灵:……唉,她只是想好好活下去,活得好那么难吗?(成长型1v1)
  • 长眠不醒

    长眠不醒

    一个古怪的父亲,一对儿古怪的姐妹。菲利普·马洛第一次登场,面对的就是这样一个家庭。老迈而富有的将军请马洛去寻找他的女婿,他的两个女儿却一直阻止马洛采取进一步行动,花痴一样的妹妹甚至头头爬到马洛的床上。诱惑力十足的姐姐则送上双唇。只认识钱的混混儿、最有情意的流氓、租售淫秽书籍的同性恋……马洛本来只是找一个不见的人,结果确见了这么多人。他要一个一个和他们打交道,用他利如刀锋的语言和拳头、手枪。
  • 竹马专属宠:萌货小青梅

    竹马专属宠:萌货小青梅

    三岁,还是白嫩可口的小神童。“姐姐,给你摸我的脸哦。”“我家小神童的脸又滑又软。”十岁,已经初见棱角的小神童。“除了我未来媳妇,谁都不能摸我脸。”“哼,不摸就不摸,不稀罕!”“给柒柒摸,呐。”已经是气场全开的洛男神把白柒柒欺上书桌。“呐,我刚洗的脸,给你摸。”“滚滚滚!”
  • 一等特工:凤行天下

    一等特工:凤行天下

    她?薄情特工,代号S!护异宝,遭背叛,谁知穿越成废材。历经磨难,涅磐重生!且看灵脉全毁的傻女,如何成为人人闻风丧胆的魔女!凤凰转世?她誓要凤鸣九天!辣手掌握杀生大权,冷漠如斯坐观天下,唯我独尊!【读者群:﹏葵花殿堂°548738502;微信公众号:kuiqi77】
  • 魔界逍遥仙

    魔界逍遥仙

    我楚离入魔又如何?是正是邪,看的不是法,而是心!此一生,我必成我所想之事,护我所爱之人!
  • 不要抱怨

    不要抱怨

    没有任何抱怨,不仅是一种平和的心态,更是一种非凡的气度,一种超俗的境界。种下牡丹不会收获蒺藜,播下龙种不会长出跳蚤。收成不是梦想出来的,而无疑是取决于我们的播种、侍弄和耕耘。
  • 墨尔本,算到爱

    墨尔本,算到爱

    厦门-墨尔本,纽约-佛罗伦萨。爱情里的时尚,数学里的浪漫。一个品牌的世界梦想。[神光群:454173;书友群:590118637]
  • 傲世玄灵师

    傲世玄灵师

    她本是古老世家的嫡出小姐,却因一个奇异的手镯成了孤儿,成长于渺无人烟的幽深崖底。身为万年不遇的废材,她是如何得奇书,收神兽,一步一个脚印走出那片与世隔绝的崖底?她本是傲世九重天的女神,一场大战,肉体湮灭,灵魂轮回,一朝转世,掀起风云无限。她有一个诡异的游魂朋友,一双慧眼识珠玉。她有一个极端的剑灵丫头,仰着娇俏可人的小脸对她说:“主人,我是真正的杀戮之剑,鲜血才能提升我的品质。”她有一只强大的本命玄兽,霸气天成的他一腔柔情为她绽放,霜,我们生命共享,灵魂相契,生生世世都得在一起。她位高权重的师父说:“生命比面子更重要。”她还有一个亦敌亦友的朋友,那个风华绝代的美男。滟滟紫衣,幽幽紫眸,敛尽世间芳华。身为神殿最年轻的大祭司,他高贵优雅若春风。他说:“这是我的选择,与她无关,不论什么结果,我都接受。”身怀世人禁忌的光明元素,她不得不韬光养晦,身怀世人觊觎的至尊玄器,她不得不谨小慎微,即便步步为营,也有那无耻的世家家主对她巧取豪夺,“如此强大的玄兽,你不配拥有。”即便小心谨慎,也能遭遇那阴险狠毒的美貌圣女,“敢抢我的男人,我要让你生不如死!”即便天赋卓绝,遇上那心胸狭窄的丹药宗师,也得遭受诬蔑。“就是你个小偷,偷了本大师的上古神丹。还说自己炼的,你以为上古神丹是路边的烂白菜?”阴谋诡谲,征途险恶,且看何人陪她直捣黄龙。世事如棋,波涛暗涌,且看她如何一步步踏上巅峰。面对强大得不可战胜的神祗,她傲气扬眉,有仇报仇,有恩报恩,本姑娘定要傲世这九重天!
  • 帝国君少又黑化了

    帝国君少又黑化了

    他说:“嫁给我,我会疼你宠你,做一个合格的丈夫,为你遮风挡雨。”他是权倾天下的帝国唯一继承人,清贵无双,魅世倾城,传说中禁欲系男神。她是现实版落难的灰姑娘,在婚礼上被新郎抛弃,被家族逼迫无路时,是他拯救了她。第二次相救,她说:“君先生,我现在想以身相许,你还要我吗?”婚后,她虐渣,他心疼道:“打疼手了吗?”后来,她被他宠到极致,都说惹谁也不能惹君夫人,因为她是君先生心尖尖上的人。君先生魅惑无比,一举一动撩人心魄,常让她招架不住。君先生常说,“你想要什么,我能给的都给你。”这是一个宠到极致,男女主强强联手虐渣的故事。
  • 国民校花:男神甜宠爱

    国民校花:男神甜宠爱

    这是一个校园女神被异国求学的京城少年追到手的故事,虽然他的招数是默默守护,甚至连表白都不敢,但还是终抱得美人归。她是众星捧月的国民校花。他是异国求学的阳光少年。在某一次回国的机场,她的一颦一笑给他留下了深刻印象。第二天开学,他意外地发现他们成为了同桌!那一年的他们,风华正茂,青春萌动。她的身边不乏追求者,他也从起初的小心翼翼,到后来的甜蜜宠爱。她也不知道从什么时候开始,她非常在意有别的女生接近他,在她心里他就应该只宠她一个人。【温馨版小剧场】圣诞节快到了,今年他们选择去伦敦度假。洛雪熙一向喜欢到处旅游,看看世间的美好。他们漫步在伦敦的街头,整个城市早早地挂上了圣诞的彩色。摄政街、牛津街、邦德街,都亮起了圣诞的灯光。“满街的圣诞灯光好美啊!就像在看天上的星星。”她像个欢快的孩子,伸手指向那些张灯结彩的挂饰。洛雪熙搓了搓手,呼了口热气,她拉着身边男生的胳膊,像只可爱的小松鼠,想要蜷缩在他的怀里。两个人拥在一起取暖,好像也没那么冷。夜幕灯火点亮的瞬间,眼前的景色变得意味深长,浪漫又美好。“郗辰,你今年的圣诞愿望是什么啊?”“这是我们在一起的第二年,我希望你能依旧天真。而你的快乐,是真的快乐。”他始终心系着她的一切,这些真挚的愿望,是冬天里,彼此最想念的样子。【宠溺版小剧场】她是女神,也是个吃货,毕竟女神都是爱吃又长不胖的。她总心心念念着中国的美食。“郗辰,说好的带我去中国吃烤鸭,什么时候才能去啊?”洛雪熙缠着一旁专心学习的陆郗辰,拉着他的胳膊摇啊摇。“傻瓜,等我们顺利结束这个学期,我就带你回家。”“讨厌,谁要跟你回家了!”洛雪熙下意识羞红了脸。“我答应过你的,一定会带你去中国,去你想去的地方,吃遍你想吃的美食。”“你这是要把我喂胖啊。下次爬山,你可别背不动我了。”“你呀,什么时候长胖过!”他宠溺地捏了捏女生的脸颊。“反正你说过要宠我一辈子的,不管我变成什么样,你都不能嫌弃我!”她伸出一根手指,戳了戳他的鼻子,被他一下子握住了手。“你是我的小公主,我不宠你宠谁啊?”下面推荐下我的完结文:《豪门盛宠之千金归来》——傻白甜落魄千金在霸道总裁的指引下一步步复仇成功的励志故事。