| The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson |  |
Prayer as Cause to Action October 27, 1999 Prayer, though apparently driven by emotions, is an act of reason. When we petition God, we do so because our reason tells us that what we seek is good. This seeking of the good is an act of reason and is undertaken with the hope that good will be done. Yet, because God is not subject to our will, but vice versa, our prayers are said to be an “imperfect cause” of any result. This “imperfect cause” discussed by Aquinas is said to be imperfect because it is not the only cause of the effect. God obviously has some say in the matter. Here's another example: I may talk with a non-Christian about Jesus. I may explain all of the reasons to become a Christian and pray for a conversion. But, I cannot directly cause the non-Christian to convert in the same way I spilled the coffee. I can be a secondary cause, however, in that I may cause that person to be disposed toward Christianity in a way. Because that person is not subject to my will, I can only be an imperfect cause, “leading up to the effect, and, in a way, disposing to it” (ST II-II, Q. 83, Art. 1). Likewise, God is not subject to our will, but in praying, we hope to be an imperfect cause of an action. |