Prayer as Prerequisite for Understanding Scripture
Prayer as the indispensable heavenly conduit for drawing the meaning of God's word from God Himself; exemplified by Daniel, Ezekiel, and the practice of saints like Thomas Aquinas, who employed both prayer and fasting for understanding difficult passages.
Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture
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Chapter V: On the Dispositions Required for This Study
— Prayer is the heavenly conduit by which we draw the meaning of God's word from God Himself; Augustine: "One is your teacher, Christ."
"prayer is needed here, as a heavenly conduit and instrument by which we may draw the meaning of the word of God from God Himself"
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Chapter V: On the Dispositions Required for This Study
— St. Thomas, when expounding Scripture, placed great hope in propitiating the Deity; for understanding difficult passages he employed both prayer and fasting.
"St. Thomas, the prince of Scholastic Theology and most versed in the Scriptures, when expounding the sacred books, was accustomed to place so much hope in propitiating the Deity, that for understanding any more difficult passage of Scripture, besides prayer, he is reported to have been accustomed also to employ fasting"
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Chapter V: On the Dispositions Required for This Study
— Daniel attained understanding of Chaldean dreams and the 70 years of exile by prayer, taught by Gabriel.
"Daniel, that man of desires, attained the dreams of the Chaldean king, and the number of the 70 years of Israel's exile recorded by Jeremiah, by prayer, and was taught by Gabriel"
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Saintly Examples of Scripture Study
— St. Jordan's witty reply: Is it better always to drink or always to eat? Prayer and Scripture study must alternate, as Basil says.
"just as both are needed in alternation, so it is fitting to pray and study Sacred Scripture in turn"