prayer

nothing enriches him but contentment, nothing makes him safe but innocence, nothing obliges increase for him but gratitude, and nothing turns hardships away from him but prayer.

And good prayer is that which produces in the soul a clear thought of God.

Let prayers before food be made worthy of God's gifts, both those He gives now and those He has stored up for the future.

On the whole, I do not think that words suffice for comfort, but I hold that there is need of prayer for the present circumstances.

It seems to me, not that they supposed the divine could not hear those who speak softly, but that they wished the prayers to be just—such as one would not be ashamed to make with many witnesses.

And for this reason the Fathers define prayer as the union of man with God, and they call it the work of angels and the prelude of the joy to come.

and having removed yourself far from all remembrance of wrongs and all rancour, which more than anything else hinders our prayers from rising to God, and having forgiven from the heart all who have sinned against you their offences, and having winged your prayer with almsgiving and compassion toward the poor, bring it to God with warm tears.

After Barlaam had gone out, Josaphat gave himself to prayer and to the warmest tears, and said:

If the spirit is guilty before itself of a blushing conscience, how will it dare to conduct prayer to the altar, at whose blushing the holy minister himself too is suffused?