soul, so the soul without prayer is dead. — St. Chrys. As the flesh derives its nutriment from food, so the soul is nourished by prayer. —St. Aug. To prayer may be traced the beginning, the progress, and the perfection of all virtues.—St. Charles Borromeo. Who are we, or what is our strength, that we should be able to resist so many temptations? God certainly wished, that we, seeing that we are deficient, and that out of him there is no assistance for us, should, with all humility, have recourse to his mercy.—St. Bernard.
EFFICACY OF PRAYER.
ASK and it shall be given unto you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you. —Matt. vii 7. How much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him —Ibid. vii 11. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth.—Ibid. vii 8. If you shall ask any thing in my name, that will I do.—John xvi 14. You shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done to you. —John xv 7. Amen, Amen, I say to you, if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you.—Ibid. xvi 23. I can do all things in Him who strengtheneth me. —Phil. iv 13. The Lord is nigh unto all them, that call upon him; to all that call upon him in truth. He will do the will of them that fear him, and he will hear their prayer and save them.—Psalm cxliv 18, 19. By prayer is obtained the possession of every good, and deliverance from every evil.–St. Bonaventure. By the practice of prayer we may construct an impregnable citadel, in which we shall be securely protected against all the snares and violence of the enemy.–St. Laur. Just. Prayer is more powerful than all the devils.—St. Bernard. Prayer is an armor capable of resisting all the assaults of the devil; it is a defence which preserves us in every danger, a port which saves us in every storm, and a treasure which supplies us with every good.—St. Liguori. He who practises prayer, sins not; and, divested of every affection, he begins to dwell in heaven, and to enjoy the conversation of God.—Ibid. He knows how to live well, who knows how to pray well.–St. Aug. He who prays shall infallibly be saved, and he who does not pray, will inevitably be lost. All the elect (infants excepted) are saved by prayer. All the reprobate are lost through neglect of prayer. —St. Liguori.
