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given himself wholly back to the Father, yet expresses himself ith a sovereign freedom by virtue of the power the Father has iven him over all flesh. The Son, who made himself Servant, is ord, the Pantocrator. Our high priest who prays for us is also the
By entering into the holy name of the Lord
Jesus we cancept, from within, the prayer he teaches us:
Our Father! His riestly
prayer fulfils, from within, the great petitions of the
rds Prayer: concern for the Fathers name;47
passionate zeal for s Kingdom (glory);~8 the accomplishment
of the will of the ther, of his plan of salvation;49 and
deliverance from evil.50
~dge, inseparably one, of the Father
and of the Son,5 which is the
~ry mystery of the life of prayer. I
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2752 Prayer presupposes an effort, afight against ourselves and the wiles of the Tempter. The battle of prayer is inseparable from the necessary spiritual battle to act habitually according to the Spirit of Christ: we pray as we live, because we live as we pray. 2753 In the battle of prayer we must confront
erroneous conceptions of prayer, various currents of
thought and our own experience offailure. We must respond
with humility, trust and perseverance to these temptations
which cast doubt on the usefulness or even the possibility
ofprayer. 2754 The principal difficulties in the practice of
prayer are distraction and dryness. The remedy lies in
faith, conversion, and vigilance of heart. 2755 Two frequent temptations threaten prayer:
lack offaith, and acedia L aform of depression
stemming from lax ascetical practice that leads to
discouragement. |
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