Gregory of Nyssa: A Hymn to Prayer

A Translation of a Magnificent and Ancient Hymn

I began reading Gregory of Nyssa’s Homilies on Our Father yesterday. During the Christmas season, I love to slow down and read spiritually rich books. And I have to admit, I cannot resist reading Gregory of Nyssa.

As one of the few appointed to interpret the Symbol at Constantinople (381), he comes with a theological pedigree that undergirds his broader theological and spiritual writings. More than that, as a pastor, Gregory in his Homilies on Our Father shines.

While I read his First Homily last night, I encountered something I did not expect: a five-stanza Hymn to Prayer. While other Christians wrote similar hymns, as far as I can see, Gregory may have written this hymn or at least learned it in his local setting.

Given its beauty and magnificence, I translated the hymn this morning. Remember to pray and commune with God as we enter the new year! And remember Gregory’s pastoral council, “If prayer precedes effort, sin will not find a pathway into the soul.”

Hymn to Prayer

Prayer is the safeguard of temperance,
the remedy of wrath,
the repression of vanity,
the purification of resentment,
the destruction of envy,
the repression of injustice,
the correction of impiety.

Prayer is the strength of bodies,
the prosperity of the household,
the good administration of the city,
the power of the kingdom,
the trophy of war,
the security of peace
the reunion of those separated
the permanence of those united.

Prayer is the seal of virginity,
the faithfulness of a spouse,
the armor of a traveler,
the guardian of those who sleep,
the courage of those who watch awake,
the abundance of those who farm,
the salvation of those who sail.

Prayer is the defense of judges,
the deliverance of prisoners,
the relief of the sick,
the consolation of the afflicted,
the happiness of those who rejoice,
the encouragement of those who lament,
the crown of the married,
the feast for those who are born,
the shroud of the dead.

Prayer is conversation with God,
contemplation of invisible things,
fullness of desires,
equal honor with the angels,
progress in goodness,
turning away from evil,
correction of sins,
enjoyment of the present,
the substance of things hoped for.

Translated from Sources Chrétiennes 596, Homélies Sur le Notre Pére. I found another translation online after I translated the above. You can use it for reference. I am biased, but I prefer my version! A quick note: the title “Hymn to Prayer” does not appear in Gregory’s original Greek homily. It is the title traditionally given to the hymn, however.