Human Transformation through Repentance: St. Mary of Egypt

Augustine's Letter 130 to Proba on How we Should Pray and the Lords Prayer

 

               The Contemplative group I sit with online is called Conversi.org an ecumenical group of Lay Cistercians many of us married with kids young or grown, receive a monthly online topic from a monk or Layperson. This month our talk was on Liturgy of the Hours that our Formation Director had pulled from a previous cycle of talks. This one is a memorable piece of work by Father Neil Paquette (2009) who is now with the Lord. Along with references to major church Fathers' comments on Prayer, he brought forward a Letter to Proba a rich widow and some renown who had with her a group of praying women, mostly family members. One of these women is also mentioned in Jerome's letters to women so these women were known in the early church. Her Question to Augustine is:  "How should we Pray?" Better.? 

Augustine uses a large chunk of his Letter 130 to give her the answer, primarily how to utilize the structure of the Lord's Prayer to pray through her day and pray for and with her friends and needs and not forgetting in his last chapter prayers for him as a clergy.  

I had in several layers of Church History courses ran into Augustine of Hippo and although I loved him for some of his work, was not particularly warm towards his opinion of women. I would not have imagined the warmth of friendship expressed in this letter to a widow, asking a sincere question of guidance from her Bishop. Now Proba had been one of the richest women in Rome and I skepticism had me concerned the letter would have perhaps included an appeal for something. To my surprise, it had this lovely friendship feel, a discourse that could have been written about controversy we are having in the world at this current moment, and straight forward how-to guidance on Prayer. 

How had I missed Augustines Letter 130 to Proba? It is a wonderful instructional discourse on the Lord's Prayer.  If we ever needed clear direction, that is practical, applicable, and workable while we are distanced from our churches and familiar worship styles, not unlike Proba worshipping in a new land and as a Mother, a Widow and Head of a household under her. Here is the reference for Letter 130.  It makes you feel that good advice still exists. Thank God for Chuch Fathers.  care. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1102130.htm

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