Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/114

 Let us  not  be  so  solicitous  for  temporal favors, which,  after  all,  may  prove  hurtful to our  soul,  but  let  us  rather  pray  for  what  is conducive  to  our  eternal  welfare. When we pray  for  temporals,  and  God,  in  His  mercy, refuses them  to  us,  it  is  because  they  would prove hurtful  to  us. 'But,' says  St.  Gregory of Nazianzen,  'he  who  asks  God  for  a  real favor (that  is,  for  a  favor  that  is  necessary  or useful  for  his  salvation),  obtains  it,  for  God is bountiful  and  generous,  and  readily  bestows His gifts.'  'When  you  pray,'  says  St.  Ambrose, 'ask for  great  things;  ask  not  for  what is transitory,  but  for  what  is  eternal. 'We should pray,'  says  St.  Augustine,  'in  the name and  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ. When, however,  we  pray  for  what  is  injurious to our  soul,  we  do  not  pray  in  the  name  of Our  Redeemer. In praying  for  temporals  we should  be  moderate  and  timid,  asking  God to give  them  to  us  provided  they  are  really beneficial, and  to  withhold  them  if  they  should prove hurtful. Many, when  they  pray,  invoke God,  but  not  as  God,  for  the  object  of their  prayer  is  opposed  to  His  glory  and  favorable to  their  passions. They seem  to  consider God  as  a  mere  servant  of  themselves  and of their  passions,  such  as  pride,  covetousness, and lust. Let us  pray,  not  for  temporals.