The Metaphysics of Prayer | Fr. Stephen Brock

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May 9, 2025

Fr. Stephen Brock is a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei and a renowned professor of Medieval Philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. In this engaging discussion, he delves into the metaphysics of petitionary prayer, examining how prayer aligns human desires with God's will. He highlights insights from C.S. Lewis and Thomas Aquinas, revealing the profound role of human prayers in divine providence. Listeners will find a rich exploration of the interplay between belief, desire, and the nature of God.

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INSIGHT

Lewis Questions Petitionary Prayer

C.S. Lewis questions why we pray if God is all-knowing and all-good.
He notes that petitionary prayer is often seen as childish compared to communion with God.

INSIGHT

Lewis' Prayer as Divine Causality

Lewis argues prayer is a divinely ordained causal act like physical actions.
He compares history to a play with God's general plot and actors' minor improvisations.

INSIGHT

Problem with God's Immutability

Lewis' model clashes with God's immutability and all-knowing nature.
God's eternal knowledge precludes learning or changing plans due to our prayers.

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Work and Prayer

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C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis's "Work and Prayer" delves into the nature of petitionary prayer and its compatibility with the attributes of God. Lewis uses analogies to illustrate how prayer can be a form of causality, even with an all-knowing and all-good God. He argues against the notion that prayer is only for children or savages, emphasizing its importance within the Christian tradition. The essay explores the relationship between human action and prayer, suggesting that both are divinely ordained ways of causing things to happen. Lewis's work challenges conventional views on prayer and offers a unique perspective on its significance.

Euthyphro

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Plato

Plato's "Euthyphro" is a short but significant dialogue that explores the nature of piety and the relationship between morality and divine will. The dialogue centers on a conversation between Socrates and Euthyphro, who is prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates challenges Euthyphro's definition of piety, leading to a series of attempts to define the concept that ultimately fail. The dialogue raises the famous Euthyphro dilemma: is something pious because the gods love it, or do the gods love it because it is pious? This dilemma highlights the tension between divine command theory and the existence of objective moral truths. "Euthyphro" is a classic example of Socratic questioning and its enduring relevance lies in its exploration of fundamental questions about morality and the nature of the divine.

Story of a Soul

Therese of Lisieux

This autobiography, written by St. Thérèse of Lisieux, is a spiritual memoir that includes her childhood, her life in the Carmelite convent, and her final days. The book is divided into three parts, each written at different times and for different recipients. It details her 'Little Way' of making small efforts to please God and her experiences with faith, suffering, and her vision of heavenly life. The book has been translated into many languages and is considered one of the top 10 spiritual books of the 20th century[3][5].