O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins,
and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone,
and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore thee,
a heart to delight in thee,
to follow and to enjoy thee,
for Christ’s sake.
(St. Ambrose of Milan, c 339-397)
The Saints on Prayer
“He who prays most receives most.” Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
“Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you.” Saint Augustine of Hippo
“We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.” Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
“Without prayer nothing good is done. God’s works are done with our hands joined, and on our knees. Even when we run, we must remain spiritually kneeling before Him.” Saint Luigi Orione
“Private prayer is like straw scattered here and there: If you set it on fire it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle and light them, and you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that.” Saint John Vianney
“What prayer could be more true before God the Father than that which the Son, who is Truth, uttered with His own lips?” Saint John Chrysostom
“Have confidence in prayer. It is the unfailing power which God has given us. By means of it you will obtain the salvation of the dear souls whom God has given you and all your loved ones. ‘Ask and you shall receive,’ Our Lord said. Be yourself with the good Lord.” Saint Peter Julian Eymard
“Purity is the fruit of prayer.” Saint Teresa of Calcutta
“There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers.” Saint Teresa of Avila