NAZARETH... The prayer - The breviary (AD B 6/6.47)

“In diebus carnis suae preces supplicationesque offerens, exauditus est proo sua reverentia” (Heb 5:7).

I. Excellence;

II. Advantages;

III. Means

I. Excellence

a) The priest is the extension of Jesus.

b) The priest is the praying Church.

1. He is the Extension of Jesus

- Sicut misit me Pater et ego mitto vos...

- Qui vos audit me audit...

- Sacerdos alter Christus... This is the feeling of the Fathers of the Church.

Like Jesus and after Jesus, the priest is father and mediator for the Church: St. Chrisostom: “O Sacerdos, tibi creditus est nundus. Mediator et pater es omnium”.

What must the priest therefore be when he prays?

St. Chrisostom: “Eum qui pro civitate ipsa tota, quid dico civitate? Imo vero pro universo terrarum orbe legatus intercedit, deprecatorque est apud Deum, ut hominum omnium, non viventium modo, sed etiam mortuorum peccatis propitius fiat, qualem, quaeso, esse oportet?”

He must imitate Our Lord.

- Our Lord praised His Father perfectly. He prayed a great deal: “Erat pernoctans in oratione”. He prayed in a way which would win the heart of His Father: “Exauditus est pro sua reverentia” (Heb 5:7).

- His life in Nazareth was entirely contemplative.

- He prayed with Mary and Joseph.

- The Psalms are the prophetic effusion of the sentiments of Our Lord.

- “In David Christus orat”, says St. Augustine.

2. The priest is the Church which prays

“Nos autem orationi instantes erimus” (Acts 6:4).

- The Holy Office is the official and continual prayer of the Church.

- It is the life of the Church. Prayer is the breath of the soul. Without breath there is death.

- The Office is coordinated with the sacrifice at the altar; it has the same objectives. “Offeramus hostiam laudis Deo” (Heb 13:15). It is also a sacrifice.

- It is the echo of Heaven’s prayer, a choir which alternates with the angels.

- It was necessary for the Church of the earth to offer an image of the celestial Jerusalem.

- It is the voice of the Savior’s spouse. “Nuntietis dilecto quia amore langueo” (Song 5:8).

II. The Advantages or the Fruits of Prayer

a) For the Church

b) For the priest.

1. For the Church

St. Prosper: the priests are the stewards of the house of God. By their prayers they will have celestial treasures.

Jacob’s ladder (Gen XXVIII) represents the efficaciousness of prayer. The angels take our prayers to heaven and bring back the divine benefits.

This is the normal channel of the graces of God for people. “Posui vos ut eatis... et quodcumque petieritis in nomine meo Deus det vobis” (Jn 15:16).

Conversions and vocations may be missed because of us.

The prayer of the priest gives glory to the triumphant Church, comfort to the suffering Church, aid to the militant Church.

2. For the priest

It is an honor to speak unceasingly to God as to a friend.

It is a source of light: “Accedite ad eum et illuminamini” (Ps 33:6).

It is a source of patience, of strength, of progress in virtue and of consolation. “Recte novit vivere qui recte novit orare” (St. Augustine).

The priest performs the acts of all the virtues when he unites himself with the thoughts of the Office.

III. The Means

a) Preparing oneself

b) Purifying oneself

c) Applying oneself.

1. Preparing oneself

“Ante orationem praepara animam tuam” (Eccl 18:23). “Noli esse sicut homo qui tentat Deum” (Ibid).

Preparation in isolation: habitual contemplation.

Preparation in proximity: putting oneself in the presence of God.

2. Purifying oneself

Ps 65:18 “Si iniquitatem aspexi in corde meo, non exaudiet Dominus”.

Is 59:2 “Peccata vestra absconderunt faciem ejus a vobis ne exaudiret”. Sin is a wall which separates us from God.

3. Applying oneself totally

- with dignity - officium oris;

- with attention - officium mentis;

- with devotion - officium cordis.

St. Jerome: “Levemus corda nostra cum manibus ad Deum”.

- Let us pray with humility: “Oratio humiliantis se penetrabit caelum” = nubes penetrabit (Eccl 35:21).

- With confidence: “Loquebatur Moises ad Dominum sicut solet loqui amicus ad amicum” (cf. Ex 33:11).

- With compunction: “Cum clamore valido et lacrimis” (Heb 5:7).

CONCLUSION

Lord, give us the spirit of prayer. “Effundam super domum David spiritum gratiae et precum” (Zec 12:10).