The function of prayer…
The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.
–Soren Kierkegaard (1813-1855)
Consistently pray…
Consistently pray in all things, so that you might not do anything without the help of God … Whoever does or busies himself with anything without prayer does not succeed in the end. Concerning this, the Lord said: ‘Without Me you can’t do anything.‘ (John 15:5)
–Saint Mark the Ascetic (Fifth Century)
Virtues assist the soul…
All the virtues assist the soul to attain to a burning love of God, but, above all, pure prayer. By means of it the soul escapes completely from the midst of creatures, carried to God, as it were, on wings.
–Saint Maximos the Confessor (580-662)
Prayer and virtues…
Perseverance in prayer cleanses the intellect, illumines it, and fills it with the light of truth. The virtues, led by compassion, give the intellect peace and light. The cleansing of the intellect is not a dialectical, discursive and theoretical activity, but an act of grace through experience and is ethical in every respect. The intellect is purified by fasting, vigils, silence, prayer, and other ascetic practices.
–Saint Isaac of Syria (Seventh Century)
In God’s presence…
The following consideration should never be forgotten when we go to prayer, namely, that we draw near to God and place ourselves in His presence principally for two reasons. The first is to render to God the honor and the homage we owe Him, and this can be done without God speaking to us or we to Him, for the duty is fulfilled by acknowledging that He is our Creator. . . . The second reason is to speak to God and to listen to Him when He speaks to us by His inspirations and the interior movements of grace. One or other of these two advantages can never fail to be derived from prayer.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Present in prayer
If you are concerned for your well-being, if you wish to be safe from the snares of the devil, the storms of this world, the ambush of your enemies; if you long to be acceptable to God, if you crave to be happy at the last—then let no day pass without at least once making yourself present to God in prayer.
–Saint Thomas More (1478-1535)
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