Morals of the Church
Library › Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V › Treatise III: On Religion › Disputation III: On Prayer

Question — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica

Question IX: For whom one ought to pray

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1.

I ASSERT first, that one is to pray not only for ourselves, but also for others, even for enemies, as I showed at length concerning Charity disput. 8 quaest. 24.

To whom and for whom we pray

2.

IT IS PROVED by the Holy Doctor ad cap. 3 Regulae, where he says that he taught us to pray by saying: Pater noster, not Pater meus, lest anyone contract his prayer to himself alone. Therefore S. Cyprianus, using this argument, says: The Doctor of peace would not have anyone pray only for himself, for we do not say: My Father, nor give me my bread etc., but: Our Father: Our bread, etc.

To whom and for whom we pray

3.

THEN it is proved from D. Thom. art. 7: That which we ought to wish for others, we ought to ask for others; but from charity we ought to wish for many goods not only for ourselves, but also for others; therefore also to ask for them. I used this argument in Tract. de charitate, loc. cit., from D. Bonav.

To whom and for whom we pray

4.

I ASSERT secondly, that one is not to pray that all may attain beatitude efficaciously, but only those who shall have willed to answer God. Therefore the Holy Doctor observes ad 17 Ioan., and with him Valentia p. 8, that Christ prayed in this form: I pray for them, I pray not for the world, but for those who shall believe in me through their word.

To whom and for whom we pray

5.

THEREFORE (says the Holy Doctor) one is to pray for all who shall have willed to be converted, because Christ came to call sinners, Luke 5, and therefore said Matth. 9: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are sick. Therefore by the world he understands those willing obstinately to serve the world, as D. Augustin. expounds, tract. 107.

To whom and for whom we pray

6.

FROM these things the Holy Doctor deduces that one is to pray also for the predestined, as is plain in the prayer of Christ.

To whom and for whom we pray

7.

YOU WILL SAY: their salvation is decreed; to what end then is prayer made for them?

To whom and for whom we pray

8.

THE Holy Doctor answers that the elect are so predestined as they are redeemed through Christ, and as quickened in the mystical body by his faith; for as D. Gregorius says, Dial. l. 1 cap. 18: The very everlasting predestination of the kingdom is so disposed by almighty God, that the elect arrive at it through labor; as they are elect, so also, predestinated, they shall be saved through the work of the redemption of Christ, which he consummated, as they were redeemed, and thus were made acceptable by his prayer.

To whom and for whom we pray

9.

I ASSERT thirdly that no one of the living is to be excluded from our private prayers.

To whom and for whom we pray

10.

IT IS PROVED from D. August. lib. de corrept. et gratia chapter 15, where he speaks thus: Since we know not who belongs to the number of the predestined, and who does not, we ought so to be moved by the affection of Charity, that we wish all to be made saved: further on, however, he shows that this is performed when we strive to bring it about that they become justified. See the rest concerning charity, disputatione 8 quaestione 25.

To whom and for whom we pray