23 December 2009

Patristic Quote of the Day

'Our Father who art in heaven.' In these few words He to whom you are to pray has Himself granted you the theme of praying, the subject matter to ask for, and the norm of making petition. He made this grant that from it you might get the feel of praying, obtain an understanding of how to request, gather a measure of your petitioning, and take most ample training from this brief instruction on prayer; also, because as a token of love the King Himself has performed the function of an advocate, in order to dictate the prayers which He intends to answer. Every hesitation in asking has been taken away; yes, more, full confidence of meriting an answer has been given, since He who is being asked finds His very self in the prayers. -- St. Peter Chrysologus, To the Catechumens on the Lord's Prayer

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