Werke Tertullian (160-220) De oratione

Übersetzung ausblenden
On Prayer

Chapter XXIII.--Of Kneeling.

In the matter of kneeling also prayer is subject to diversity of observance, through the act of some few who abstain from kneeling on the Sabbath; and since this dissension is particularly on its trial before the churches, the Lord will give His grace that the dissentients may either yield, or else indulge their opinion without offence to others. We, however (just as we have received), only on the day of the Lord's Resurrection ought to guard not only against kneeling, but every posture and office of solicitude; deferring even our businesses lest we give any place to the devil. 1 Similarly, too, in the period of Pentecost; which period we distinguish by the same solemnity of exultation. 2 But who would hesitate every day to prostrate himself before God, at least in the first prayer with which we enter on the daylight? At fasts, moreover, and Stations, no prayer should be made without kneeling, and the remaining customary marks of humility; for (then) 3 we are not only praying, but deprecating, and making satisfaction to God our Lord. 4 Touching times of prayer nothing at all has been prescribed, except clearly "to pray at every time and every place." 5

  1. Eph. iv. 27. ↩

  2. i.e. abstaining from kneeling: kneeling being more "a posture of solicitude" and of humility; standing, of "exultation." ↩

  3. i.e. at fasts and Stations. [Sabbath = Saturday, supra.] ↩

  4. For the meaning of "satisfaction" as used by the Fathers, see Hooker, Eccl. Pol. vi. 5. ↩

  5. Eph. vi. 18; 1 Thess. v. 17; 1 Tim. ii. 8. ↩

Edition ausblenden
De Oratione

XXIII.

[1] De genu quoque ponendo uarietatem obseruationis patitur oratio per pauculos quosdam qui sabbato abstinent genibus, quae dissensio cum maxime apud ecclesias causam dicit. [2] Dominus dabit gratiam suam, ut aut cedant aut sine aliorum scandalo sententia sua utantur. Nos uero, sicut accepimus, solo die dominicae resurrectionis non ab isto tantum, sed omni anxietatis habitu et officio cauere debemus, differentes etiam negotia, ne quem diabolo locum demus. Tantumdem et spatio Pentecostes quae eadem exultationis sollemnitate dispungitur. [3] Ceterum omni die quis dubitet prosternere se Deo uel prima saltem oratione qua lucem ingredimur? [4] Ieiuniis autem et stationibus nulla oratio sine genu et reliquo humilitatis more celebranda est. Non enim oramus tantum, sed et deprecamur et satisfacimus Deo Domino nostro.

  Drucken   Fehler melden