Tuesday, September 12, 2006

A Quiver Of Prayers

"It is said that the monks in Egypt say frequent but very short prayers that are thrown like arrows, so as to prevent that the vigilant attention needed by those who pray become relaxed and dissolute by being prolonged too much. Prayer does not have to include many words, but much supplication; thus, it can be prolonged with fervent attention. To pray a lot means to knock for a long time and with all our heart at the door of him to whom we are praying (Lk 11:5f.). For prayer consists more in groaning and tears than in discourse and words."

-St. Augustine

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