{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/211/2110304.htm","path":"chr/ecf/211/2110304.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/211/2110304.htm","text":"These aforesaid prayers, then, they begin and finish in such a way that when the Psalm is ended they do not hurry at once to kneel down, as some of us do in this country, who, before p. 208 the Psalm is fairly ended, make haste to prostrate themselves for prayer, in their hurry to finish the service 693 as quickly as possible. For though we have chosen to exceed the limit which was anciently fixed by our predecessors, supplying the number of the remaining Psalms, we are anxious to get to the end of the service, thinking of the refreshment of the wearied body rather than looking for profit and benefit from the prayer. Among them, therefore, it is not so, but before they bend their knees they pray for a few moments, and while they are standing up spend the greater part of the time in prayer. And so after this, for the briefest space of time, they prostrate themselves to the ground, as if but adoring the Divine Mercy, and as soon as possible rise up, and again standing erect with outspread hands\u2014just as they had been standing to pray before\u2014remain with thoughts intent upon their prayers. For when you lie prostrate for any length of time upon the ground you are more open to an attack, they say, not only of wandering thoughts but also slumber. And would that we too did not know the truth of this by experience and daily practice\u2014we who when prostrating ourselves on the ground too often wish for this attitude to be prolonged for some time, not for the sake of our prayer so much as for the sake of resting. But when he who is to \u201ccollect\u201d the prayer 694 rises from the ground they all start up at once, so that no one would venture to bend the knee before he bows down, nor to delay when he has risen from the ground, lest it should be thought that he has offered his own prayer independently instead of following the leader to the close.\nAd celeritatem miss\u00e6. The word \u201cmissa\u201d is here used for the breaking up of the congregation after service, as it is again in Book III. c. vii., where Cassian says that one who came late for prayer had to wait, standing before the door, for the \u201cmissa\u201d of the whole assembly. Cf. III. c. viii., \u201cpost vigiliarum missam,\u201d and the rule of S. Benedict (c. xvii.): \u201cAfter the three Psalms are finished let one lesson be read, a verse, and Kyrie Eleison: et miss\u00e6 fiant.\u201d A full account of the various meanings given to the word will be found in the Dictionary of Christian Antiquities, Vol. II. p. 1193 sq.\n208:694\nColligere orationem. The phrase corresponds to the Greek \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03ac\u03c0\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd, but Ducange gives but few instances of its use in Latin. It is found, however, in Canon xxx. of the Council of Agde. \u201cPlebs collecta oratione ad vesperam ab Episcopo cum benedictione dimittatur.\u201d","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. XI: The Works of John Cassian.: Chapter VII. Of their Method of Praying.","type":"page"}