“Our prayers are fruitless, either because they are not fervent and persevering supplications, which proceed from the depth of our souls, and into which our whole soul is poured forth, but are only weak desires which we utter without fervor, thinking they must needs by fulfilled of their own accord; or because our supplications are unclean and evil, inasmuch as we ask that which is hurtful and of no benefit to our souls; or ask things not for the glory of God, but for the gratification of our carnal and selfish desires.”
(Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow, collected sermons)

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