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it； but would fear such a pig…sty far more than all the high； big
and beautiful churches； towers and bells in existence； if such
prayer be not in them。 It is indeed not a question of the places
and buildings in which we assemble； but only of this
unconquerable prayer； that we pray it and bring it before God as
a truly common prayer。
XIII。 The power of this prayer we see in the fact that in olden
times Abraham prayed for the five cities； Sodom； Gomorrah； etc。；
Genesis xviii； and accomplished so much； that if there had been
ten righteous people in them； two in each city； God would not
have destroyed them。 What then could many men do； if they united
in calling upon God earnestly and with sincere confidence？
St。 James also says： 〃Dear brethren； pray for one another； that
ye may be saved。 For the prayer of a righteous man availeth much；
a prayer that perseveres and does not cease〃 （that is； which does
not cease asking ever more and more； although what it asks is not
immediately granted； as some timid men do）。 And as an example in
this matter he sets before us Elijah； the Prophet； 〃who was a
man；〃 he says； 〃as we are； and prayed； that it might not rain；
and it rained not by the space of three years and six months。 And
he prayed again； and it rained； and everything became fruitful。〃
There are many texts and examples in the Scriptures which urge
us to pray； only that it be done with earnestness and faith。 As
David says； 〃The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous； and His
ears are open unto their cry。〃 Again； 〃The Lord is nigh unto all
them that call upon Him； to all that call upon Him in truth。〃 Why
does he add； 〃call upon Him in truth〃？ Because that is not prayer
nor calling upon God when the mouth alone mumbles。
What should God do； if you come along with your mouth； book or
Paternoster； and think of nothing except that you may finish the
words and complete the number？ So that if some one were to ask
you what it all was about； or what it was that you prayed for；
you yourself would not know； for you had not thought of laying
this or that matter before God or desiring it。 Your only reason
for praying is that you are commanded to pray this and so much；
and this you intend to do in full。 What wonder that thunder and
lightning frequently set churches on fire； because we thus make
of the House of Prayer a house of mockery； and call that prayer
in which we bring nothing before God and desire nothing from Him。
But we should do as they do who wish to ask a favor of great
princes。 These do not plan merely to babble a certain number of
words； for the prince would think they mocked him； or were
insane； but they put their request very plainly； and present
their need earnestly； and then leave it to his mercy； in good
confidence that he will grant it。 So we must deal with God of
definite things； namely； mention some present need； commend it
to His mercy and good…will； and not doubt that it is heard； for
He has promised to hear such prayer； which no earthly lord has
done。
XIV。 We are masters in this form of prayer when we suffer bodily
need； when we are sick we call here upon St。 Christopher； there
upon St。 Barbara； we vow a pilgrimage to St。 James； to this place
and to that； then we make earnest prayer； have a good confidence
and every good kind of prayer。 But when we are in our churches
during mass； we stand like images of saints； know nothing to
speak of or to lament； the beads rattle； the pages rustle and the
mouth babbles； and that is all there is to it。
But if you ask what you shall speak of and lament in your prayer；
you can easily learn from the Ten Commandments and the Lord's
Prayer。 Open your eyes and look into your life and the life of
all Christians； especially of the spiritual estate； and you will
find how faith； hope； love； obedience； chastity and every virtue
languish； and all manner of heinous vices reign； what a lack
there is of good preachers and prelates； how only knaves；
children； fools and women rule。 Then you will see that there were
need every hour without ceasing to pray everywhere with tears of
blood to God； Who is so terribly angry with men。 And it is true
that it has never been more necessary to pray than at this time；
and it will be more so from now on to the end of the world。 If
such terrible crimes do not move you to lament and complain； do
not permit yourself to be led astray by your rank； station； good
works or prayer： there is no Christian vein or trait in you；
however righteous you may be。 But it has all been foretold； that
when God's anger is greatest and Christendom suffers the greatest
need； then petitioners and supplicants before God shall not be
found； as Isaiah says with tears； chapter lxiv： 〃Thou art angry
with us； and there is none that calleth upon Thy Name； that
stirreth up himself to take hold of Thee。〃 Likewise； Ezekiel
xxii： 〃I sought for a man among them； that should make up the
hedge； and stand in the gap before me for the land； that I should
not destroy it； but I found none。 Therefore have I poured out
Mine indignation upon them； I have consumed them with the fire
of My wrath。〃 With these words God indicates how He wants us to
withstand Him and turn away His anger from one another； as it is
frequently written of the Prophet Moses； that he restrained God；
lest His anger should overwhelm the people of Israel。
XV。 But what will they do； who not only do not regard such
misfortune of Christendom； and do not pray against it； but laugh
at it； take pleasure in it； condemn； malign； sing and talk of
their neighbor's sins； and yet dare； unafraid and unashamed； go
to church； hear mass； say prayers； and regard themselves and are
regarded as pious Christians？ These truly are in need that we
pray twice for them； if we pray once for those whom they condemn；
talk about and laugh at。 That there would be such is also
prophesied by the thief on Christ's left hand； who blasphemed Him
in His suffering； weakness and need； also by all those who
reviled Christ on the Cross； when they should most of all have
helped Him。
O God； how blind； nay； how insane have we Christians become！ When
will there be an end of wrath； O heavenly Father？ That we mock
at the misfortune of Christendom； to pray for which we gather
together in Church and at the mass； that we blaspheme and condemn
men； this is the fruit of our mad materialism。 If the Turk
destroys cities； country and people； and ruins churches； we think
a great injury has been done Christendom。 Then we complain； and
urge kings and princes to war。 But when faith perishes； love
grows cold； God's Word is neglected； and all manner of sin
flourishes； then no one thinks of fighting； nay； pope； bishops；
priests and clergy； who ought to be generals； captains and
standard…bearers in this spiritual warfare against these
spiritual and many times worse Turks； these are themselves the
very princes and leaders of such Turks and of the devil host；
just as Judas was the leader of the Jews when they took Christ。
It had to be an apostle； a bishop； a priest； one of the number
of the best； who began the work of slaying Christ。 So also must
Christendom be laid waste by no others than those who ought to
protect it； and yet are so insane that they are ready to eat up
the Turks and at home themselves set house and sheep…cote on fire
and let them burn up with the sheep and all other contents； and
none the less worry about the wolf in the woods。 Such are our
times； and this is the reward we have earned by our ingratitude
toward the endless grace which Christ has won for us freely with
His precious blood； grievous labor and bitter death。
XVI。 Lo！ where are the idle ones； who do not know how to do good
works？ Where are they who run to Rome； to St。 James； hither and
thither？ Take up this one single work of the mass； look on your
neighbor's sin and ruin； and have pity on him； let it grieve you；
tell it to God； and pray over it。 Do the same for every other
need of Christendom； especially of the rulers； whom God； for the
intolerable punishment and torment of us all； allows to fall and
be misled so terribly。 If you do this diligently； be assured you
are one of the best fighters and captains； not only against the
Turks； but also against the devils and the powers of hell。 But
if you do it not； what would it help you though you performed all
the miracles of the saints； and murdered all the Turks； and yet
were found guilty of having disregarded your neighbor's need and
of having thereby sinned against love？ For Christ at the last day
will not ask how much you have prayed； fasted； pilgrimaged； done
this or that for yourself； but how much good you have done to
others； even the very least。
Now without doubt among the 〃least〃 are also those who are in sin
and spiritual poverty； captivity and need； of whom there are at
present far more than of those who suffer bodily