Questions & Answers

#GC229 We say then that although during this mortal life we will never fulfill the Law, such perfection is not required of us in vain, for it shows us the mark at which we ought to aim, that each of us, according to the grace God has bestowed on him, may strive continually to press toward it, and to advance day by day? That is as I understand it.
#GC230 Do we not have perfect rule of goodness in the Law? Yes, and therefore God demands nothing from us, but to follow it; and, on the other hand, repudiates and rejects all that a man undertakes to do beyond what it contains. The only sacrifice He requires...
#GC231 What is the purpose then of all the admonitions, reproofs, commandments, and exhortations made both by Prophets and Apostles? They are nothing else than declarations of the Law, leading us into obedience to it rather than turning us away from it.
#GC232 But nothing is said about particular vocations? When it is said that we are to render to every one his due, we may well infer what the duty of each is in his own vocation. Moreover as we have already said, this is expounded for us in the whole of S...
#GC233 Since we have spoken sufficiently of the service of God, which is the second part of His worship, let us now speak of the third part? We said it was the invocation of God in all our needs.
#GC234 Do you think that He alone is to be invoked? Yes, for He requires this as the worship proper to His Deity.
#GC235 If it is so, in what way is it legitimate for us to ask the aid of men? There is a great difference between these two things. For we call upon God to protest that we expect no good but from Him, and that we have no refuge elsewhere, and yet we ask the assistance of men, a...
#GC236 You mean that when we seek the succour of men, there is nothing to prevent our calling upon God alone, seeing that we do not put our reliance on them, and do not seek their aid except in so far as God has ordained them to be ministers and dispensers of His blessings, in order to assist us? That is true. And indeed, every benefit that comes to us we should take as coming from God Himself, as in truth it is He who sends it to us by their hands.
#GC237 Nevertheless, should we not give thanks to men for the kindness which they do to us? Certainly, if only for the reason that God honours them by communicating His blessings to us through their hands, for in this way He lays us under obligation to Him, and wishes us to be mindful of the...
#GC238 Can we not conclude from this that it is wrong to invoke angels, and saints who have departed from this world? Yes, indeed; for God has not assigned to saints this office of aiding and assisting us. And in regard to angels, though He employs their ministry for our salvation, nevertheless He does not wish us to...
#GC239 You say, then, that all that conflicts with the order instituted by the Lord, contravenes His will? Yes, for it is a sure sign of infidelity if we are not contented with what the Lord gives to us. Moreover, if instead of having a refuge in God alone, in obedience to His command, we have recourse to...
#GC240 Let us now speak of the way of prayer to God. Is it sufficient to pray with the tongue, or does prayer require also the spirit and the heart? The tongue is not always necessary, but there must be understanding and affection.
#GC241 How will you prove that Since God is Spirit, He always requires the heart, and especially in prayer, in which we enter into communication with Him, wherefore He promises to be near to those only who call upon Him in truth (Ps 145:18). On the other hand, He curses all who pray to Him in hypocrisy, and without affection? (Isa 29:13, 14).
#GC242 All prayers, then, made only with the mouth are vain? Not only vain, but also displeasing to God.
#GC243 What kind of affection should we have in prayer? First, that we feel our misery and poverty, and that this feeling should beget sorrow and anguish in us. Secondly, that we have an earnest desire to obtain grace from God. This desire will also kindle...
#GC244 Does this derive from our nature, or from the grace of God? Here God must come to our aid, for we are too dull, but the Spirit of God helps us with groanings that cannot be uttered, and forms in our hearts the affection and zeal that God requires, as Paul says...
#GC245 Does this mean that we have not to incite and urge ourselves to pray? By no means. On the contrary, when we do not feel such a disposition within us we should beseech the Lord to put it into us, so as to make us capable and fit to pray as we ought.
#GC246 You do not, however, mean that the tongue is quite useless in prayer? Not at all, for sometimes it helps the mind, sustaining and keeping it from being drawn away from God so easily. Besides, since more than all the other members it was formed to the glory of God, it is...
#GC247 If so, what about prayer in an unknown tongue? It is a mockery of God, and a perverse hypocrisy (1Co 14:14).
#GC248 But when we pray to God, is it a venture in which we do not know whether we will succeed or not Or ought we to be certain that our praying will be heard? The ground of our prayers should always be, that they will received by God, and that we shall obtain what we request as far is it is expedient for us. And therefore St. Paul says that true prayer come...
#GC249 And what of those who doubt, not knowing if God hears or not? Their prayers are utterly void, since they have no promise, for He says that whatever we ask, believing, we shall receive (Mat 21:22; Mark 11:24).
#GC250 It remains to learn how and in whose name we can have the boldness to present ourselves before God, seeing that we are so unworthy in ourselves? First we have promises on which we must rest, without considering our worthiness (Ps 50:15; 91:3; 145:18; Isa 30:15; 65:24; Jer 29:12; Joel 3:5). Secondly, if we are children of God, He induces and ur...
#GC251 Do you understand that we are to call upon God only, in the Name of Jesus Christ? I understand so, for we have an express commandment about this. And in it we are promised that by His intercession our requests will be heard (John 14:13).
#GC252 It is not, then, temerity or foolish presumption on our part, if we presume to address God personally, seeing that we have Jesus Christ for our? Advocate, and if we set Him before us, that God may for His sake be gracious to us and accept us No, for we pray as it were by His mouth, since He gives us entrance and audience, and intercedes for us...
#GC253 Let us now speak of the substance of our prayers. Can we ask for all that comes into our mind, or is there a certain rule to be observed about it? If we followed our fantasy, our prayers would be very badly ordered. We are so ignorant that we cannot judge what it is good to ask: Moreover, all our desires are so intemperate that it is necessary t...
#GC254 What is to be done, then? That God Himself should instruct us, according to what He knows to be expedient; that we do nothing but follow Him, as if He were leading us by the hand.
#GC255 What instructions has He given? He has given us ample instructions throughout Scripture; but that we may address ourselves the better to a definite end, He has given us a form in which He has briefly comprehended everything that is...
#GC256 Repeat it? Our Lord Jesus Christ, being asked by His Disciples to teach them how to pray, answered that they should pray thus (Mat 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4): "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed by thy name. Th...
#GC257 To make it easier to understand, tell me how many sentences it contains? Six, of which the first three concern the glory of God alone, without any reference to ourselves; the other three are for us, and concern our blessing and profit.
#GC258 Are we then to ask God for anything from which no benefit redounds to us? It is true that God, by His infinite goodness, so arranges and orders things, that nothing tends to the glory of His Name without being also salutary to us. Therefore, when His name is sanctified, He...

Showing 931 - 960 of 1075