Friday, October 06, 2006

Early Church Prayer from Africa

What follows is a simple prayer of dependence on God, written by St. Augustine (354-340 AD), North African Bishop at the turn of the fifth century and a pupil of Ambrose, Bishop of Milan.

Lord, what we know not, teach us.
Lord, what we have not, give us.
Lord, what we are not, make us.

A one-time professor of rhetoric, Augustine was the author of such profoundly influential works as his Confessions and The City of God. He knew devotion, and he knew dissent, learning to rely fully on the Lord only when an older and mature adult. He rooted his leadership approach in complete dependency in God.

Source:
Stewardship Times, October 2006. Volume 3, Issue 10.