Successful Prayer

Et scimus quoniam audit nos quidquid petierimus. Multipliciter eadem quae praemiserat inculcat, ut nos ad orandum vivacius excitet. Sed manet objectio quam posuit, ut secundum voluntatem petaqmus nostri Conditoris. Quod bifariam potest accipi, ut scilicet et ea quae ipse vult rogemus, et tales ipsi quales esse nos desiderat ad rogandum veniamus. Quod est habere fidem quae per dilectionem operatur, et ante omnia meminisse illius evangelici mandati: Et cum stabitis ad ornandum, dimitte si quid habetis adversus aliquem, ut et Pater vester qui in coelis est dimittat vobis peccat vestra. Sanctus Beda, In I Epistolam Sancti Joannis, Caput V Source: Migne PL 93.117b

And we know that He hears us, whatever we ask...1 He inculcates the same thing he has set down many times, that we should eagerly rouse ourselves for prayer. But he also sets down an obstacle, that we should ask in accordance with the will of our Creator. It is possible to understand this in two parts, that is, that we should ask for the things which please Him, and we should come to be such things as He wishes us to be in our asking, which is to have faith that works through love, 2 and before everything to remember the commandment of His Gospel: 'And when you stand to pray, forgive whatever you have against anyone, as even your Father in heaven forgives you your sins.' 3 Saint Bede, Commentary on the First Letter of Saint John, Chapter 5 1 1 Jn 5.15 2 Galat 5.6 3 Mk 11.25