"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray."

St Augustine

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"If, devout soul, it is your will to please God and live a life of serenity in this world, unite yourself always and in all things to the divine will. Reflect that all the sins of your past wicked life happened because you wandered from the path of God's will. For the future, embrace God's good pleasure and say to him in every happening: "Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight." "

St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"Though the path is plain and smooth for people of good will, those who walk it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty if they do not have good feet, courage, and tenacity of spirit. "

St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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St Alphonsus de Liguori  (1696 - 1787)
 

PRAYER
The great means of obtaining Salvation and all the graces which we desire of God

by St Alphonsus de Liguori

PART 2 
WHICH PROVES THAT THE GRACE OF PRAYER IS GIVEN TO ALL AND WHICH TREATS OF THE ORDINARY MODE IN WHICH THIS GRACE OPERATES
 
Introduction
 
Ch1. God wishes all men to be saved, and therefore Christ died to save all men.
1. God wishes all men to be saved
    »

Decision of the Church
    » The celebrated text of St Paul
    » Other texts of Scripture
    » General consent of the Fathers
2. Jesus Christ died to save all men
    » The testimony of holy Scripture
    » The teaching of the holy Fathers
3. Children who die without Baptism
   
Ch2. God commonly gives to all the Just the grace necessary for the observance of the Commandments and to all sinners the grace necessary for conversion
1. Proofs
    » Teaching of the Fathers of the Greek Church
    » Teaching of the Fathers of the Latin Church
    » Testimony of Holy Scripture
2. Obstinate or Hardened Sinners and the Abandonment of Them by God
       
Ch3. Exposition and confutation of Jansenius' system of 'delectation relatively victorious'
1. The system of Jansenius
    » Refutation of the first proposition
    » Refutation of the third proposition
2. The doctrine of St Augustine on the "Victorious Delectation" and on the Free Will
3. Continuation of the refutation of Jansenius and of his adherents
       
Ch4. God gives all men the grace to pray if they choose, as the "sufficient grace" which is common to all men is by itself enough for prayer
1. The principle theologians who teach this doctrine
2. The authority upon which this doctrine is based
    » Holy Scripture
    » The Council of Trent
    » The Holy Fathers
    » Reasons that justify this doctrine
    » Conclusion