The Cause of the Canonisation of John Henry Cardinal Newman

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A Meditation for the First Sunday of Lent: ‘Deliverance from evil is … the object of prayer’

Categorised as Featured and published Saturday, February 28th, 2009
Newman on Lent: ‘Now is the accepted time, now the day of salvation’
A Meditation for the Second Sunday of Lent: ‘God’s Holy Fear’

Temptation of Christ, Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-1311, Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, Siena, Italy

In this passage from his sermon for the first Sunday of Lent 1838, Newman asserts that Christian prayer has as its true aim deliverance from evil, but for this outcome we need to pray not just occasionally, but constantly:

This is another point which calls for distinct notice in the history of our Saviour’s fasting and temptation, viz. the victory which attended it [...] Since prayer is not only the weapon, ever necessary and sure, in our conflict with the powers of evil, but a deliverance from evil is ever implied as the object of prayer, it follows that all texts whatever which speak of our addressing and prevailing on Almighty God, with prayer and fasting, do, in fact, declare this conflict and promise this victory over the evil one.

Thus in the parable, the importunate widow, who represents the Church in prayer, is not only earnest with God, but against her adversary. “Avenge me of mine adversary,” [Lk 18:3] she says; and our “adversary” is “the devil, who, like a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour; whom resist,” adds St. Peter, “steadfast in the faith.” [1 Pt 5:8]

Let it be observed that, in this parable, perseverance in prayer is especially recommended to us. And this is part of the lesson taught us by the long continuance of the Lent fast,—that we are not to gain our wishes by one day set apart for humiliation, or by one prayer, however fervent, but by “continuing instant [viz. urgently] in prayer.” [Rom 12:12]

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