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Objection 1: It would seem that the parts of prayer are unfittingly
described as supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
thanksgivings. Supplication would seem to be a kind of adjuration.
Yet, according to Origen (Super Matth. Tract. xxxv), "a man
who wishes to live according to the gospel need not adjure another, for
if it be unlawful to swear, it is also unlawful to adjure."
Therefore supplication is unfittingly reckoned a part of prayer.
Objection 2: Further, according to Damascene (De Fide Orth.
iii, 24), "to pray is to ask becoming things of God."
Therefore it is unfitting to distinguish "prayers" from
"intercessions."
Objection 3: Further, thanksgivings regard the past, while the
others regard the future. But the past precedes the future.
Therefore thanksgivings are unfittingly placed after the others.
On the contrary, suffices the authority of the Apostle (1 Tim.
2:1).
I answer that, Three conditions are requisite for prayer. First,
that the person who prays should approach God Whom he prays: this is
signified in the word "prayer," because prayer is "the raising up of
one's mind to God." The second is that there should be a petition,
and this is signified in the word "intercession." In this case
sometimes one asks for something definite, and then some say it is
"intercession" properly so called, or we may ask for some thing
indefinitely, for instance to be helped by God, or we may simply
indicate a fact, as in Jn. 11:3, "Behold, he whom Thou
lovest is sick," and then they call it "insinuation." The third
condition is the reason for impetrating what we ask for: and this
either on the part of God, or on the part of the person who asks.
The reason of impetration on the part of God is His sanctity, on
account of which we ask to be heard, according to Dan.
9:17,18, "For Thy own sake, incline, O God, Thy ear";
and to this pertains "supplication" [obsecratio] which means a
pleading through sacred things, as when we say, "Through Thy
nativity, deliver us, O Lord." The reason for impetration on the
part of the person who asks is "thanksgiving"; since "through giving
thanks for benefits received we merit to receive yet greater
benefits," as we say in the collect [Ember Friday in September and
Postcommunion of the common of a Confessor Bishop]. Hence a gloss
on 1 Tim. 2:1 says that "in the Mass, the consecration is
preceded by supplication," in which certain sacred things are called
to mind; that "prayers are in the consecration itself," in which
especially the mind should be raised up to God; and that
"intercessions are in the petitions that follow, and thanksgivings at
the end."
We may notice these four things in several of the Church's collects.
Thus in the collect of Trinity Sunday the words, "Almighty eternal
God" belong to the offering up of prayer to God; the words, "Who
hast given to Thy servants," etc. belong to thanksgiving; the
words, "grant, we beseech Thee," belong to intercession; and the
words at the end, "Through Our Lord," etc. belong to
supplication.
In the "Conferences of the Fathers" (ix, cap. 11, seqq.) we
read: "Supplication is bewailing one's sins; prayer is vowing
something to God; intercession is praying for others; thanksgiving is
offered by the mind to God in ineffable ecstasy." The first
explanation, however, is the better.
Reply to Objection 1: "Supplication" is an adjuration not for the
purpose of compelling, for this is forbidden, but in order to implore
mercy.
Reply to Objection 2: "Prayer" in the general sense includes all
the things mentioned here; but when distinguished from the others it
denotes properly the ascent to God.
Reply to Objection 3: Among things that are diverse the past
precedes the future; but the one and same thing is future before it is
past. Hence thanksgiving for other benefits precedes intercession:
but one and the same benefit is first sought, and finally, when it has
been received, we give thanks for it. Intercession is preceded by
prayer whereby we approach Him of Whom we ask: and prayer is preceded
by supplication, whereby through the consideration of God's goodness
we dare approach Him.
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