St. Augustine, What Is It to Shut the Door?
Question 012.
But what does it mean to “shut the door”?
… to be alone with God in the sanctuary of the human heart, certain preparatory steps must be taken to ensure an authentic encounter with him. Cast out of your heart all sordid desires… greed… superstitions, blasphemies, and evil thoughts. Throw away your resentment – not only those you harbor towards your […]
St. Augustine, What Does it Mean to Pray is Secret?
Question 011.
If God is transcendent and immanent, why are we enjoined to go into our private room and, with the door shut, pray to our Father who is in a secret place?
…pour out your prayer where God alone sees, he who repays all…if you know what ‘your private room’ is and clean it, then pray to God there….If men are to reward you, […]
St. Augustine, How is God Both Internal and External to Myself?
Question 010.
So our prayer is a search for a transcendent yet immanent God?
Without interruption or occupying space, with his immutable and exalted power, God is the most interior of all things, because all things exist in him. Further, he is the most external thing, because he is above them all. Thus… with his immutable eternity he is the oldest of all things and […]
St. Augustine, How May I Know this Light?
Question 009
What do I need to discover this Light?
Love. He who knows the truth, knows what the light is; and he who knows it knows eternity. Love knows it. O Truth eternal and true love and beloved eternity, you are my God, for you I long night and day.
from St. Augustine Answers 101 Questions on Prayer by […]
St. Augustine, How Should I Know if I am with God in Prayer?
Question 008
What should I look for when I go into myself?
Where God is there is peace… the Sabbath of the heart. For it listens to God, who promises great things. For it listens to God, who promises great things, and if it labors in the present, it expands in hope of the future, where the clouds of sadness are brightened; as […]