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3rd Pastoral Letter of the Bishop of Acqui

merit of his - it is good to note - but rather by the goodness of
God and the great promise made to us by Jesus Christ who prays
to his eternal Father in us and for us, giving value to our
supplications by his merits and is always heard because of his
innocence.
God always answers, but often, instead of the thing asked
for, he gives something else because that is for our greater good.
He knows better than we do when is the best time to answer us.
A grace given immediately would be less appreciated; and he
wants us to be aware of his precious gifts. He wants us to
continue praying in order to remain with him longer, because in
continuing to pray we increase our merits in heaven. In short,
he wants us to do our part and that we leave everything else to
him. Is that not what he says in the clearest terms: "Throw your
worries on the Lord and he will support you": iacta super
Domini curam tuam et ipse te enurtiet (Ps. LIV. 23).
Therefore, let us pray, dearly beloved; let us pray with
faith, let us pray with humility. This way we mortify our pride
which is such a great obstacle to our presenting ourselves and
offering supplications to God. How could he listen to those
who, like the Pharisee of which the Gospel speaks, might come
to him not to give him thanks and praise him, but to exalt
themselves? or to those who are puffed up with pride or think
they do not need anything, or who think that every grace is due
them? "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble":
Deus superbis resistit; humilibus autem dat gratiam (Js. 4: S).
Therefore, the basis of prayer is humility, but we also need a
lively faith which is so necessary to obtain divine favors. "He
who does not trust must expect little or nothing": qui enim
haesitat... non aestimet quod accipiat aliquid a Domino, adds
the same Apostle (I. 6.7). Yet, how many lack such good
dispositions when they pray; how many pray with their lips only
without applying their minds and heart, whose bodies are in
church or in a secluded place, but their thoughts are far from

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