Traduction Masquer
On Prayer

Chapter IV.--The Third Clause.

According to this model, ¹ we subjoin, "Thy will be done in the heavens and on the earth;" ² not that there is some power withstanding ³ to prevent God's will being done, and we pray for Him the successful achievement of His will; but we pray for His will to be done in all. For, by figurative interpretation of flesh and spirit, we are "heaven" and "earth;" albeit, even if it is to be understood simply, still the sense of the petition is the same, that in us God's will be done on earth, to make it possible, namely, for it to be done also in the heavens. What, moreover, does God will, but that we should walk according to His Discipline? We make petition, then, that He supply us with the substance of His will, and the capacity to do it, that we may be saved both in the heavens and on earth; because the sum of His will is the salvation of them whom He has adopted. There is, too, that will of God which the Lord accomplished in preaching, in working, in enduring: for if He Himself proclaimed that He did not His own, but the Father's will, without doubt those things which He used to do were the Father's will; ⁴ unto which things, as unto exemplars, we are now provoked; ⁵ to preach, to work, to endure even unto death. And we need the will of God, that we may be able to fulfil these duties. Again, in saying, "Thy will be done," we are even wishing well to ourselves, in so far that there is nothing of evil in the will of God; even if, proportionably to each one's deserts, somewhat other ⁶ is imposed on us. So by this expression we premonish our own selves unto patience. The Lord also, when He had wished to demonstrate to us, even in His own flesh, the flesh's infirmity, by the reality of suffering, said, "Father, remove this Thy cup;" and remembering Himself, added, "save that not my will, but Thine be done." ⁷ Himself was the Will and the Power of the Father: and yet, for the demonstration of the patience which was due, He gave Himself up to the Father's Will.

Edition Masquer
De Oratione

IV.

[1] Secundum hanc formam subiungimus FIAT VOLVNTAS TUA IN CAELIS ET IN TERRA, non quod aliquis obsistat quominus uoluntas Dei fiat, et ei successum uoluntatis suae oremus, sed in omnibus petimus fieri uoluntatem eius. Ex interpretatione enim figurata carnis et spiritus nos sumus caelum et terra. [2] Quamquam et si simpliciter intelligendum est, idem tamen est sensus petitionis, ut in nobis fiat uoluntas Dei in terris, ut possit scilicet fieri et in caelis. Quid autem Deus uult quam incedere nos secundum suam disciplinam? Petimus ergo substantiam et facultatem uoluntatis suae subministret nobis, ut salui simus et in caelis et in terris, quia summa est uoluntatis eius salus eorum quos adoptauit.

[3] Est et illa Dei uoluntas quam Dominus administrauit praedicando, operando, sustinendo. Si enim ipse pronuntiauit non suam, sed Patris facere se uoluntatem, sine dubio quae faciebat, ea erant uoluntas Patris, ad quae nunc nos uelut ad exemplaria prouocamur, ut praedicemus et operemur et sustineamus ad mortem usque. Quae ut implere possimus, opus est Dei uoluntate.

[4] Item dicentes 'fiat uoluntas tua' uel eo nobis bene optamus, quod nihil mali sit in Dei uoluntate, etiam si quid pro meritis cuiusque secus inrogatur.

[5] Iam hoc dicto ad sufferentiam nosmetipsos praemonemus. Dominus quoque cum sub stantia passionis infirmitatem carnis demonstrare iam in sua carne uoluisset, Pater, inquit, transfer poculum istud et recordatus, nisi quod mea non, sed tua fiat uoluntas. Ipse erat uoluntas, et potestas Patris et tamen ad demonstrationem sufferentiae debitae uoluntati se Patris tradidit.