On Prayer 25

As to time, however, the outward observance of certain hours too will not be idle: I mean those common hours that mark the intervals of the day, the third, sixth, and ninth, which can be found to be more solemn in the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit was first poured out on the assembled disciples at the third hour. Peter, on the day on which he experienced the vision of all things common in that vessel, had gone up to the upper part of the house at the sixth hour to pray. The same Peter with John was going into the temple at the ninth hour, when he restored the paralytic to health. Although these things stand simply, without a precept for any observance, still it may be good to establish some presumption that both enforces the reminder to pray and, as by a law, wrests us at times from business for such a duty; so that, as we read was observed by Daniel too, of course from the discipline of Israel, we may pray at least not less than three times a day, debtors as we are to three, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; apart, of course, from the regular prayers which are owed without any reminder at the coming of daylight and of night. It is fitting too for the faithful not to take food and not to go to the bath before a prayer has been interposed. For the refreshments and nourishment of the spirit are to be put before those of the flesh, because heavenly things come before earthly.