The following Lenten reflection is taken from the third century saint, Cyprian:
When 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, 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 only praying for ourselves.
Our prayer is for the general good, for the common good. When we pray, we do not pray for our own single selves; we pray for all God’s people, because they and we are one.
