On prayer and the contemplative life · Aquinas, Saint Thomas
2. Again, acts of worship fall under precept, whereas prayer seems to
Chapter 27 of 107 · 1 min read
fall under no precept, but to proceed simply from the mere wish to pray; for prayer is merely asking for what we want; consequently prayer is not an act of the virtue of religion.
Yet not only to ask for what we desire, but to desire rightly, falls under precept; to desire, indeed, falls under the precept of charity, but to ask falls under the precept of religion—the precept which is laid down in the words: Ask and ye shall receive.
