standing has speculated, and whatsoever else that we have need of; in which consists that which we properly call prayer, which is an humble, confident and fervent petition of such things as are convenient for us, and which we desire to obtain of Almighty God.
These petitions and colloquies are to be directed sometimes to the Eternal Father, at other times to His only-begotten Son Christ Jesus, and at other times to the whole most Blessed Trinity, alleging to them titles and reasons that may move them to grant us what we demand.
i. These titles may be taken from three parts — [1] some from the part of God, as He is God, as for instance, asking Him something for His goodness for the love that He bears us; for the desire He has of our good, for that He commands us to ask Him; for the glory of His holy name, that He may be praised by all His creatures; and finally, there may be made as it were a litany of His perfections and attributes, saying unto Him, " Grant me, O Lord, what I require of Thee, for Thine own sake," "for Thy charity," "for Thy mercy," "for Thy liberality," "for Thy wisdom," "for Thine omnipotence," "for Thine immensity," "for Thine eternity," &c.
ii. Other titles there are on the part of Christ Jesus our Lord, true God and man, as, for instance, by His incarnation and nativity; by His circumcision and presentation in the Temple; by His flying into Egypt; by His fastings; His hunger, cold, and nakedness, and by all the labour and travel of His preaching; again, by the dolours, ignominies, and torments of His passion and death; alleging His sweating of blood, His imprisonment, His scourging, thorns, nails, gall, vinegar, with the rest; sometimes speaking to the Eternal Father, beseeching Him to hear me for the love of His Son, for the services He did Him, and the pains that for His love
- ↑ S. Th. 2, 2, q. lxxiii., art. 17.
