Additional Patristic Quotes on Invocation or Calling Upon the Name of the Lord
Building on the previous list of Early Church Fathers, here are more quotes from patristic sources (1st-5th centuries) emphasizing invocation—whether calling upon God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, or seeking intercession from angels, saints, and martyrs. These expand the theme of prayerful dependence, supplication, and communal worship. I’ve organized them chronologically, including new figures and additional quotes from those previously mentioned, with brief contexts and sources where available.
- Hermas (c. 80 AD, Apostolic Father)
Context: In The Shepherd, Hermas discusses the strength gained from angelic intercession and encourages bold invocation of the Lord for understanding, highlighting compassion in response to prayer.
Major Quote: “But those who are weak and slothful in prayer, hesitate to ask anything from the Lord; but the Lord is full of compassion, and gives without fail to all who ask him. But you, [Hermas,] having been strengthened by the holy angel [you saw], and having obtained from him such intercession, and not being slothful, why do not you ask of the Lord understanding, and receive it from him?” (The Shepherd 3:5:4) 20 21 22 - Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215 AD, Theologian)
Context: In Miscellanies, Clement portrays prayer as a communal act with angels and saints, invoking their presence for purity and support.
Major Quote: “In this way is he [the true Christian] always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him [in prayer].” (Miscellanies 7:12) 20 21 22 - Hippolytus (c. 170–236 AD, Theologian and Martyr)
Context: In Against Plato, Hippolytus warns of eternal punishment without intercession, implying the value of invoking righteous friends for aid.
Major Quote: “No sleep will give them rest; no night will soothe them; no death will deliver them from punishment; no voice of interceding friends will profit them. For neither are the righteous seen by them any longer, nor are they worthy of remembrance.” (Against Plato, On the Cause of the Universe par. 3) 22 - Origen (Additional Quote, c. 185–253 AD)
Context: Expanding on his earlier views, Origen in On Prayer affirms intercession by Christ, angels, and departed saints for sincere pray-ers.
Major Quote: “But not the high priest [Christ] alone prays for those who pray sincerely, but also the angels . . . as also the souls of the saints who have already fallen asleep.” (On Prayer 11) 20 21 22 - Cyprian of Carthage (Additional Quotes, c. 200–258 AD)
Context: In On the Lord’s Prayer, Cyprian teaches invocation through Christ’s words, emphasizing God as Father and the efficacy of prayer in His name.
Major Quotes:- “Let us therefore, brethren beloved, pray as God our Teacher has taught us. It is a loving and friendly prayer to beseech God with His own word, to come up to His ears in the prayer of Christ.” (Treatise 4) 19
- “For since He says, that whatsoever we shall ask of the Father in His name, He will give us, how much more effectually do we obtain what we ask in Christ’s name, if we ask for it in His own prayer!” (Treatise 4) 19
- In Letters: “Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides [of death] always pray for one another.” (Letters 56[60]:5) 20 21
- Methodius of Olympus (c. 260–311 AD, Bishop and Martyr)
Context: In his oration, Methodius invokes Mary (Theotokos) and Simeon for remembrance and advocacy, modeling direct supplication to saints.
Major Quotes:- “Therefore, we pray [ask] you, the most excellent among women, who glories in the confidence of your maternal honors, that you would unceasingly keep us in remembrance. O holy Mother of God, remember us, I say, who make our boast in you, and who in august hymns celebrate the memory, which will ever live, and never fade away.” (Oration on Simeon and Anna 14) 20 21 22
- “And you also, O honored and venerable Simeon, you earliest host of our holy religion, and teacher of the resurrection of the faithful, do be our patron and advocate with that Savior God, whom you were deemed worthy to receive into your arms.” (Oration on Simeon and Anna 14) 20 21 22
- Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 315–386 AD, Bishop)
Context: In his lectures, Cyril describes Eucharistic prayer as invoking patriarchs, prophets, and martyrs for God to receive petitions through their intercession.
Major Quote: “Then [during the Eucharistic prayer] we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep: first, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition.” (Catechetical Lectures 23:9) 20 21 22 - Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367 AD, Bishop)
Context: In his commentary, Hilary assures that saints and angels guard and defend those seeking to stand in God’s grace.
Major Quote: “To those who wish to stand [in God’s grace], neither the guardianship of saints nor the defenses of angels are wanting.” (Commentary on the Psalms 124:5:6) 20 21 - Ephraim the Syrian (Additional Quotes, c. 306–373 AD)
Context: Ephraim invokes martyrs for intercession, seeking Christ’s grace and freedom from spiritual battles.
Major Quotes:- “You victorious martyrs who endured torments gladly for the sake of the God and Savior, you who have boldness of speech toward the Lord himself, you saints, intercede for us who are timid and sinful men, full of sloth, that the grace of Christ may come upon us, and enlighten the hearts of all of us so that we may love him.” (Commentary on Mark) 20 21
- “Remember me, you heirs of God, you brethren of Christ; supplicate the Savior earnestly for me, that I may be freed through Christ from him that fights against me day by day.” (The Fear at the End of Life) 20 21
- Basil the Great (Additional Quote, c. 330–379 AD)
Context: In his letter, Basil invokes apostles, prophets, and martyrs as mediators for God’s mercy and ransom from sins.
Major Quote: “I acknowledge also the holy apostles, prophets, and martyrs; and I invoke them to supplication to God, that through them, that is, through their mediation, the merciful God may be propitious to me, and that a ransom may be made and given me for my sins.” (Letter 360) 22 - Gregory of Nyssa (Additional Quote, c. 335–395 AD)
Context: In his sermon, Gregory invokes Ephraim at the heavenly altar for remembrance and remission of sins.
Major Quote: “[Ephraim], you who are standing at the divine altar [in heaven] . . . bear us all in remembrance, petitioning for us the remission of sins, and the fruition of an everlasting kingdom.” (Sermon on Ephraim the Syrian) 20 21 - Ambrose of Milan (c. 340–397 AD, Bishop)
Context: In Concerning Widows, Ambrose calls upon Peter and Andrew to pray, emphasizing spiritual affinity over blood relations.
Major Quotes:- “So Peter and Andrew prayed for the widow. Would that there were some one who could so quickly pray for us, or better still, they who prayed for the mother-in-law, Peter and Andrew his brother.” (Concerning Widows par. 55) 22
- “You have the Apostles near, you have the Martyrs near; if associated with the Martyrs in devotion, you draw near them also by works of mercy. Do you show mercy and you will be close to Peter.” (Concerning Widows par. 54) 22
- John Chrysostom (Additional Quotes, c. 347–407 AD)
Context: In his homilies, Chrysostom urges fleeing to saints and martyrs for patronage with God, even in death.
Major Quotes:- “He that wears the purple [i.e., a royal man] . . . stands begging of the saints to be his patrons with God, and he that wears a diadem begs the tentmaker [Paul] and the fisherman [Peter] as patrons, even though they be dead.” (Homilies on Second Corinthians 26) 20 21 22
- “When you perceive that God is chastening you, fly not to his enemies . . . but to his friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who were pleasing to him, and who have great power [in God].” (Orations 8:6) 20 21
- Jerome (c. 347–420 AD, Theologian)
Context: In Against Vigilantius, Jerome argues that apostles and martyrs pray more effectively after death, having won their crowns.
Major Quote: “If the apostles and martyrs while still in the body can pray for others, at a time when they ought still be solicitous about themselves, how much more will they do so after their crowns, victories, and triumphs?” (Against Vigilantius 6) 20 21 22 - Augustine (Additional Quotes, 354–430 AD)
Context: Augustine stresses communal remembrance of martyrs for aid through their prayers, distinguishing it from praying for the dead.
Major Quotes:- “A Christian people celebrates together in religious solemnity the memorials of the martyrs, both to encourage their being imitated and so that it can share in their merits and be aided by their prayers.” (Against Faustus the Manichean) 20 21
- “At the Lord’s table we do not commemorate martyrs in the same way that we do others who rest in peace so as to pray for them, but rather that they may pray for us that we may follow in their footsteps.” (Homilies on John 84) 20 21
These additions provide a broader view of patristic thought, particularly on intercessory invocation, which complements direct calls upon God. Many draw from Eucharistic and memorial contexts. If you’d like quotes from specific fathers, eras, or further expansions, let me know!
