Prayer for the Needy and the Church

He teaches mysteries. What then follows these things? Shall we alone celebrate, or shall we also care for our neighbor? Shall we alone hold a festival, or shall our word concern others as well? It is necessary that for our festival there be a common groan of the Church toward God, which is both visible and well-received, and let us remember our brothers in need, those being examined privately in the wilderness.

Let us become as if joined to those who are bound; let us become as if suffering with those who suffer necessity; for if one member suffers, all the members suffer together. Let us therefore sympathize with our brothers, our own members; some through material things, some through words, and others through acts of kindness, but all through entreaty toward God on their behalf. I beg you, let there be a common intercession toward God today, for our captivity is common. I beg you, let the prayer be common, for the discipline is common.

Let us hear the one saying, 'Pray for one another so that you may be saved.' Let us hear Christ saying, 'If two or three agree in prayer, concerning any request which they shall ask, it shall be done for them.' A great weapon, brothers, is the prayer of the Church; a great wall, brothers, is the prayer of agreement toward God, and especially that of the captivity of a faithful people.

No one will dare to say that God does not listen to sinners. He receives more readily the prayer of the humble, and especially of those being afflicted, flogged, imprisoned, and distressed for his name, being insulted by enemies, and not having denied the faith of Christ. Among these there are many and many currently existing among our people, having become confessors, and being quickly heard by Him.

A great weapon, beloved, is their prayer; for Christ is ashamed of them all, through whom they also are in danger every day. Therefore, we, joining our prayers to theirs, and looking toward their boldness toward God, let us pray commonly and intensely for our brothers in need, because often royal philanthropy in the festivals grants forgiveness and redemption to many condemned. I say again, brothers, the prayer of the Church is great, and especially the faith of the captives.

The injustice of a biased crowd. Therefore, we beg that all your love intensely remember our brothers in need; and at that most terrible hour, in which we receive the unvalued pearl of Christ's body in our hands. Thus let us pray intensely for our brothers, and let us say to Christ: You, the only God, the same then and now good, and the man-loving Master, who through the Passover rescued Israel from the slavery of Egypt and through the blood of the lamb granted him freedom, you also now through your stainless body and precious blood, grant freedom from bitter slavery to your world.

You who received the weeping of the sinful harlot, receive today also your Church and the groan of her captivity; you who received the entreaty of the faithful thief, receive the petition of your faithful people; you who received the repentance and the sighing of Peter, receive also our weeping of the poor; you who did not turn away from the Canaanite's tears, receive also the small Church interceding for great captivity, crying out to you God today and saying: God, the three-personed one risen from the dead, raise your faithful people from the enemies; you who raised Adam from the mortals, raise the horn of the Christians; you, the same God then and now, who took the form of a slave, redeem your humble people from slavery; you who were worthy to become an infant, save with swords the multitude of our infants.

You, the God then, who sojourned with a mother in Egypt, recall the mothers and children from their long sojourn; you who were sold for many voluntarily, cease the distress of the people of the Churches; you who received the lashes and threats of Pilate in your side, you who labored for us on the journey, cease the labors and hardships of your people; you who cried out on the cross: I thirst, quench the souls of those who thirst terribly and hunger; you who were judged among the lawless by the lawless, rescue also us from the counsel of the lawless; you who were stripped like a criminal by the lawless, you, Master, being bound by the unlawful, loose those brought low in chains; the...