Mercy And Prayer

Remedia propitiando Deo ipsius Dei verbis data sunt, quid deberent facere peccantes magisteria divina docuerunt, operationibus iustis Deo satisfieri, misericordiae meritis peccata purgari. Et apud Salomonem legimus: Conclude eleemosynam in corde pauperis , et haec pro te exorabit ab omni malo. Et iterum: Qui obturat aures ne audiat imbecillum, et ipse invocabit Deum, et non erit qui exaudiat eum. Neque enim promereri misericordiam Domini poterit qui misericors ipse non fuerit, aut impetrabit de divina pietate aliquid in precibus qui ad precem pauperis non fuerit humanus. Quod item in Psalmis Spiritus sanctus declarat et probat dicens: Beatus qui intelligit super egenum et pauperem, in die mala liberabit eum Dominus. Quorum praeceptorum memor Daniel, cum rex Nabuchodonosor adverso somnio territus aestuaret, pro avertendis malis ad divinam opem impetrandam remedium dedit dicens: Propterea, rex, consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime et iniustitias tuas miserationibus pauperum, et erit Deus parcens peccatis tuis. Cui rex non obtemperans, adversa quae viderat et infesta perpessus est: quae evadere et vitare potuisset, si peccata sua eleemosynis redemisset. Raphael quoque angelus paria testatur, et ut eleemosyna libenter ac largiter fiat hortatur dicens: Bona est oratio cum ieiunio et eleemosyna: quia eleemosyna a morte liberat, et ipsa purgat peccata. Ostendit orationes nostras ac ieiunia minus posse nisi eleemosynis adiuventur, deprecationes solas parum ad impetrandum valere, nisi factorum et operum accessione satientur. Revelat Angelus et manifestat et firmat eleemosynis petitiones nostras efficaces fieri, eleemosynis vitam de periculis redimi, eleemosynis animas a morte liberari. Sanctus Cyprianus, De Opere et Eleemosynis Source:Migne PL 4.605c-606b

The remedies for propitiating God are given in the words of God Himself; the Divine instructions teaching what sinners should do, that God is satisfied by righteous works, that sins are cleansed with the merits of mercy. In Solomon we read: 'Close up alms in the heart of the poor and these shall intercede for you from all evil.' 1 And again: 'He who blocks up his ears that he not hear the weak, he also shall call on God and there will be no one to hear him.' 2 For he shall not be worthy of the mercy of the Lord, who has not been merciful, nor shall he acquire anything from the Divine piety in his prayers who has not been humane to the prayer of the poor. Which same thing the Holy Spirit declares and proves in the Psalms, saying: 'Blessed is he who has understanding of the poor and needy; the Lord will deliver him on the day of evil.' 3 Mindful of which precepts, Daniel, when king Nebuchodonosor was troubled by an adverse dream, gave, for the averting of evils, a remedy to obtain the Divine aid, saying, 'On account of which, O king, let my counsel be pleasing to you, and redeem your sins by alms, and your unrighteousness by mercy to the poor, and God will pardon your sins.' 4 And as the king did not attend to him, he was afflicted with the misfortunes and adversities he had seen and which he would have escaped and avoided had he redeemed his sins by alms. The angel Raphael also witnesses the like and exhorts that alms should be gladly and liberally given, saying: 'Prayer is good with fasting and alms; because alms deliver from death and wash away sins.' 5 He shows that our prayers and fasting are diminished unless with the aid of alms, that petitions alone have little strength to gain what they entreat unless supported by the addition of deeds and works. The angel reveals and manifests and confirms that our petitions become effective by alms, that by alms life is redeemed from dangers, that by alms souls are delivered from death. Saint Cyprian of Carthage, Treatise On Works And Alms. 1 Sirach 22.12 2 Proverbs 21.13 3 Ps 40.2 4 Dan 4.27 5 Tobit 12.8-9