Page:Prayerbookforrel00lasa 0.djvu/49

 graces, which  God  hath  prepared  for  us  from  all  eternity, will be  granted  only  to  prayer. — St. Thomas. God wishes to  give,  but  He  gives  only  to  those  who  ask. — St. Augustine. 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.

SK, and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you:  seek,  and  you shall find:  knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  to  you. — Matt. vii. 7. How  much  more  will  your  Father,  Who is in  heaven,  give  good  things  to  them  that  ask  Him? — Ibid. vii. 1 1 . For  every  one  that  asketh,  receiveth;  and  he that  seeketh,  flndeth. — Ibid. vii. 8. If  you  shall  ask  Me anything  in  My  name,  that  will  I  do. — John xiv. 14. You shall ask  whatever  you  will,  and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you. — John xv. 7. Amen,  Amen,  I  say  to  you,  if  you  ask the Father  anything  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. — Ps. cxliv. 18, 19.  By prayer  is  obtained  the  possession  of  every  good,  and  deliverance from  every  evil. — St. Bonaventure.

HE most  necessary  conditions  of  prayer,  are  humility, confidence, and  perseverance. — St. Liguori. He hath regard  to  the  prayer  of  the  humble. — Ps. ci. 18.