On the Lord's Prayer 8

Before all things, the teacher of peace and master of unity did not want prayer to be made individually and privately, so that one who prays should pray only for himself. We do not say, "My Father, who are in heaven," nor, "Give me today my bread"; nor does each one ask that only his own debt be forgiven him, or ask for himself alone that he not be led into temptation and be delivered from evil. Our prayer is public and common; and when we pray, we pray not for one but for the whole people, because we, the whole people, are one. The God of peace and master of concord, who taught unity, willed that one should pray thus for all, just as he himself bore all in one. This law of prayer the three youths observed, shut up in the furnace of fire, harmonious in prayer and concordant in the agreement of spirit. The faithful word of divine Scripture declares it, and, while it teaches how such men prayed, it gives an example that we should imitate in our prayers, so that we may be such as they. "Then," it says, "those three, as from one mouth, sang a hymn and blessed God." They spoke as from one mouth, and Christ had not yet taught them to pray. And therefore their speech was prevailing and effective as they prayed, because a peaceful, simple, and spiritual prayer won the Lord's favour. So too we find that the apostles prayed with the disciples after the Lord's ascension: "They were all," it says, "persevering with one mind in prayer, with the women and Mary, who had been the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." They persevered with one mind in prayer, showing by both the urgency and the concord of their prayer that God, "who makes those of one mind to dwell in a house," does not admit into the divine and eternal house any but those among whom prayer is of one mind.