Romans 8:26 (WEB)
In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.
Catechism · 6
Prayer in the Christian Life
“He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer, Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought,"” — Catechism footnote: Rom 8:26.
In the Age of the Church
“In the end, however, "with sighs too deep for words" the Holy Spirit "helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words."” — Catechism footnote: Rom 8:26.
“The Holy Spirit "himself intercedes for us . . . and intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."” — Catechism footnote: Rom 8:26-27.
The Battle of Prayer
“Are we convinced that "we do not know how to pray as we ought"?” — Catechism footnote: Rom 8:26.
“For St. Paul, this trust is bold, founded on the prayer of the Spirit in us and on the faithful love of the Father who has given us his only Son.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Rom 10:12-13; 8:26-39.
"I Believe in the Holy Spirit"
“"The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words."” — Catechism footnote: Rom 8:26.
Fathers and councils · 28
Athanasius of Alexandria
“…afterwards, as the ancient people when oppressed in Egypt groaned, so, when we too had the Law ‘engrafted’ in us, and according to the unutterable sighings of the Spirit made our intercession, ‘O Lord our God, take possession of us,’ then, as ‘He became for a house of refuge’ and a ‘God and defence,’ so also He…” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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John Damascene
“For the Spirit helpeth our infirmities and affordeth power to the law of our mind, against the law that is in our members.” — editor's note: Ibid. 26.
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Gregory of Nyssa
“If, then, Moses cries, though without speaking, as witnessed by Him Who hears, those “groanings which cannot be uttered,” is it strange that the Prophet, knowing the Divine will, so far as it was lawful for him to tell it and for us to hear it, revealed it by known and familiar…” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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Catena Aurea on John
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
“(Rom. 8:26) The Holy Spirit however groaneth not in Himself, but in us: He maketh us to groan.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment - Didymus the BlindCatena Aurea on John
“(Rom. 8:26) And the Saviour, on the other hand, pours consolation into those hearts that need it: as in Maccabees, He strengthened those of the people that were brought low.” — the author cites it
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“And He is called the Comforter, because He comforts and encourages us, and helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered, that is, makes intercession to God.” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X IX.34Conference IX
“For if we also remember these words of the Apostle that “we know not what to pray for as we ought” we shall see that we sometimes ask for things opposed to our salvation and that we are most providentially refused our requests by Him who sees what is good for us with greater right and truth than we can.” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XIII.6Conference XIII
“And He said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness:” and again: “For we know not what to pray for as we ought.”” — editor's note: 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9; Rom. viii. 26.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences XI–XVII XVI.13Conference XVI
“…us with groanings that cannot be uttered: But He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what the Spirit desireth, for He asketh for the saints according to God.”” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26, 27.
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Augustine of Hippo
“…and raising it up into their own eyes; and will myself enter into my chamber, and sing there unto Thee songs of love,—groaning with groaning unutterable in my pilgrimage, and remembering Jerusalem, with heart raised up towards it, Jerusalem my country, Jerusalem my mother, and Thyself, the Ruler over it, the…” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
Read the whole comment“If the teacher of the Gentiles, Paul the Apostle, saith, “For what we should pray for as we ought, we know not,” how much more we?” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
Read the whole comment“For a time what is good for us we are utterly ignorant: for “what we should pray for as we ought we know not:” but “save me with Thy right hand,” so that even if in this time I suffer sundry tribulations, when the night of all tribulations hath been spent, on the right…” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
Read the whole comment“How is it said, “The Spirit itself intercedeth for the saints,” but as meaning the charity which is wrought in thee by the Spirit?” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26, 27.
Read the whole comment“And so he in whom “the Spirit maketh intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered,” says, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to contemplate the beauty of the Lord.”” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26
Read the whole comment“…of a dove: “For what we should pray for as we ought,” says he, “we know not; but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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John Chrysostom
““The Spirit also” (he says) “speaketh with groanings which cannot be uttered.” ( Rom. viii. 26.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment““For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.” ( Rom. viii. 26.)” — the author cites it
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Hilary of Poitiers
“The words of St. Paul teach us that no man knows how he ought to pray: For we know not how to pray as we ought.” — editor's note: Ib. viii. 26.
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Ephrem the Syrian
“For the Holy Spirit in them, in their stead, besought with meditation: He stirred them up, and in Him did they look on that Redeemer, after whom they longed.” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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Tertullian
“Herein also you ought to recognise the Paraclete in His character of Comforter, in that He excuses your infirmity from (the stringency of) an absolute continence.” — editor's note: Comp. Rom. viii. 26.
Read the whole commentChapter XIV.—The Divine Power Shown in Christ’s Incarnation. Meaning of St. Paul’s Phrase. Likeness of Sinful Flesh. No Docetism in It. Resurrection of Our Real Bodies. A Wide Chasm Made in the Epistle by Marcion’s…
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Basil the Great
“But, it is said that “He maketh intercession for us.”” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26, 27.
Read the whole comment“Those who “know not what they ought to pray for,” even though they be induced to utter a word of the Spirit with awe, as though coming near His dignity, yet prune down all that exceeds the exact proportion of their speech.” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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Ambrose of Milan
“To which point I will briefly answer that Spirit is often put for the grace of the Spirit, as the Apostle also said: “For the Spirit Himself intercedeth for us with groanings which cannot be uttered;” that is, the grace of the Spirit, unless perchance you have been able to hear the groanings of the Holy Spirit.” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“For to intercede does not imply to seek for vengeance, as is most men’s way (for in that there would be something of humiliation), but it is to plead for us by reason of His Mediatorship, just as the Spirit also is said to make intercession for us.” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
Read the whole comment“And again,—We know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; and I will pray with the Spirit and I will pray with the understanding also;—that is, in the mind and in the Spirit.” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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Clement of Alexandria
“If he but form the thought in the secret chamber of his soul, and call on the Father “with unspoken groanings,” He is near, and is at his side, while yet speaking.” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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Jerome
“If, according to theApostle Paul, we cannot pray as we feel, and speech does not express the thoughts of our own minds, how much more dangerous is it to judge of another man’s heart, and to trace and explain the meaning of the particular words and expressions which he uses?” — editor's note: Rom. viii. 26.
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Cross-references · 28
Cited together in On Monogamy Chapter 3.
Cited together in On Monogamy Chapter 3.
Cited together in Confessions XII.16.
Cited together in Conferences XI–XVII XIII.6.
Cited together in Catechism §2634.
Cited together in Catechism §2634.
Cited together in Catechism §2634.
Cited together in Catechism §2634.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VII.7.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith IV.22.
Cited together in Catechism §2634.
Cited together in Confessions XII.16.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VII.7.
Cited together in Homilies on the Psalms Homily 2.
Cited together in Catechism §2559.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on John 1:32–34 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Confessions XII.16.
Cited together in Catechism §2736.
Cited together in Catechism §2559.
Cited together in Catechism §2559.
Cited together in Catechism §2559.
Cited together in Catechism §2559.
Cited together in Catechism §2559.
Cited together in Catechism §2559.
Cited together in Didymus the Blind on John 14:15–17 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Homilies on the Psalms Homily 2.
Cited together in Homilies on the Psalms Homily 2.
Cited together in An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith IV.22.