Alphonsus Liguori

Name: Sermons for all the Sundays in the year — Sermon XXXIX. Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: On the efficacy and necessity of prayer
Author: Alphonsus Liguori

Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

Summary

“Sermons for all the Sundays in the year — Sermon XXXIX. Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: On the efficacy and necessity of prayer”, published in 1882, is a work by Alphonsus Liguori. It explores elements such as prayer, graces and salvation.

Quotes from Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (Alphonsus Liguori)

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ Mary Magdalene de Pazzi used to say, that when a soul prays to God for any grace, he feels in a certain manner under an obligation to her, and thanks her; because by prayer the soul opens to him a way of satisfying his desire to dispense his graces to us. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ Thou hast set a cloud before thee, that our prayer may not pass through." (Lamen. iii. 44.) I will not omit here the exhortation of St. Bernard, to ask graces of God through the intercession of his divine mother. ” Let us ask grace, and ask it through Mary; for she is a mother, and her prayer cannot be fruitless." (Serm. de Aqæd.) St. Anselm says: "Many things are asked of God and are not obtained: what is asked of Mary is obtained, not because she is more powerful, but because God decreed thus to honour her, that men may know that she can obtain all things from God." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ It is evident that God gives some graces, such as the beginning of faith, without prayer and that he has prepared other graces, such as perseverance to the end only for those who pray." (De dono persev., c.xvi.) And in another place he writes, that ” God wishes to bestow his favours; but he gives them only to those who ask." (In Ps. c.)
5. Hence theologians commonly teach, after St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, St. Augustine, Clement of Alexandria, and others, that, for adults prayer is necessary as a means of salvation; that is, that without prayer it is impossible for them to be saved. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ John Climacus says, that our prayers as it were compel God by a holy violence to hear us. "Prayer piously does violence to God." Hence, when we pray to the Lord, He instantly answers by bestowing upon us the grace we ask. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ Augustine, that, though man is not able, with the aid of the grace ordinarily given, to fulfil all the commandments, still he can, by prayer, obtain the additional helps necessary for their observance. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ Hence they who are conquered cannot excuse themselves by saying that they had not strength to resist the assault of the enemy; for had they asked aid from God, he should have given it; and had they prayed, they should have been victorious. Therefore, if they are defeated, God will punish them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ Augustine, ” knows how to live well who knows how to pray well." (Hom, xliii.) In order to obtain God’s graces by prayer, it is necessary, first, to take away sin; for God does not hear obstinate sinners. For example: if a person entertains hatred towards another, and wishes to take revenge, God does not hear his prayer. ” When you multiply prayer, I will not hear; for your hands are full of blood." (Isa. i. 15.) St. Chrysostom says, that he who prays while he cherishes a sinful affection, does not pray, but mocks God. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ Chrysostom says, that prayer is a powerful weapon of defence against all enemies. ” Truly prayer is a great armour." (Hom, xli., ad Pop.) St. Ephrem writes, that he who fortifies himself beforehand by prayer, prevents the entrance of sin into the soul. "If you pray before you work, the passage into the soul will not be open to sin." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ From this, most beloved brethren, you may infer how pleasing to God, and how necessary for us, are our humble petitions to obtain from the Lord all the graces which are indispensable for salvation. In this sermon I will show, in the first point, the efficacy of prayer: and in the second, the necessity of prayer.
First Point. On the efficacy of prayer.
1. To understand the efficacy and value of our prayers, we need only consider the great promises which. God has made to every one who prays. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Alphonsus Liguori, Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (1882)

“ But if he ask the Lord to take away hatred from his heart, the Lord will hear him. Secondly, it is necessary to pray with attention. Some imagine that they pray by repeating many Our Fathers, with such distraction that they do not know what they say. ”

Alphonsus Liguori

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Quotes from Sermons for all the Sundays in the year… (Alphonsus Liguori)

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