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Summa Theologiae · II-II, q. 83

Question 83. Of Prayer

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, Second Part of the Second Part. 17 articles.

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Text: Summa Theologiae, Project Gutenberg #18755, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province. The Second Part of the Second Part of the Summa in the English Dominican translation (first printed 1911 to 1925; second and revised edition from 1920). A sample check on 2026-11-09 against pre-1931 printings at the Internet Archive (first printings of 1915 and 1916 and the second and revised edition of the 1920s) found that the article text matches, with no 1947 introduction, synopsis, or index. Question and article numbers were added by the transcriber. Rights: Public domain (US)

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We must now consider prayer, under which head there are seventeen points of inquiry:

(1) Whether prayer is an act of the appetitive or of the cognitive power?

(2) Whether it is fitting to pray to God?

(3) Whether prayer is an act of religion?

(4) Whether we ought to pray to God alone?

(5) Whether we ought to ask for something definite when we pray?

(6) Whether we ought to ask for temporal things when we pray?

(7) Whether we ought to pray for others?

(8) Whether we ought to pray for our enemies?

(9) Of the seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer;

(10) Whether prayer is proper to the rational creature?

(11) Whether the saints in heaven pray for us?

(12) Whether prayer should be vocal?

(13) Whether attention is requisite in prayer?

(14) Whether prayer should last a long time?

(15) Whether prayer is meritorious? [*Art. 16]

(16) Whether sinners impetrate anything from God by praying? [*Art. 15]

(17) of the different kinds of prayer.

Articles

  1. Whether Prayer Is an Act of the Appetitive Power?
  2. Whether It Is Becoming to Pray?
  3. Whether Prayer Is an Act of Religion?
  4. Whether We Ought to Pray to God Alone?
  5. Whether We Ought to Ask for Something Definite When We Pray?
  6. Whether Man Ought to Ask God for Temporal Things When He Prays?
  7. Whether We Ought to Pray for Others?
  8. Whether We Ought to Pray for Our Enemies?
  9. Whether the Seven Petitions of the Lord's Prayer Are Fittingly Assigned?
  10. Whether Prayer Is Proper to the Rational Creature?
  11. Whether the Saints in Heaven Pray for Us?
  12. Whether Prayer Should Be Vocal?
  13. Whether Attention Is a Necessary Condition of Prayer?
  14. Whether Prayer Should Last a Long Time?
  15. Whether Prayer Is Meritorious?
  16. Whether Sinners Impetrate Anything from God by Their Prayers?
  17. Whether the Parts of Prayer Are Fittingly Described As Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions, and Thanksgivings?

Also online, linked only: the same translation at New Advent and the Latin text at Corpus Thomisticum. Neither is copied here.

Source: Thomas Aquinas. Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part. Project Gutenberg #18755. Project Gutenberg record. Public domain in the USA. Outside the U.S., check local copyright rules. Project Gutenberg notices retained. The full Project Gutenberg license is kept in the hosted text.