This excerpt is taken from St. Cyprian of Carthage (third century). He reminds us that our prayers are never uttered for ourselves alone, but always include the intentions of others:
Then we pray, we are not to pray for ourselves alone. We do not say, "My Father, who art in heaven," or "Give me this day this day my daily bread." We do not ask for our own trespasses alone to be forgiven; and when we pray that we may be delivered from evil, we are not praying only for ourselves, either.
Our prayer is for the general good, for the common good. When we pray, we do not pray for our single selves; we pray for all God's people, because they and we are one.
(This item originally appeared in The Providence Visitor)
