Fathers

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What the Fathers say

1 Corinthians 14:15

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

What then, he says, is more beneficial? And what should one ask of God? That one should pray "with the spirit," that is, with the gift, and also "with the mind," that is, to consciously understand the words of the prayer with one's thought. Likewise also concerning singing.

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

Because someone could say: inasmuch as prayer in a tongue is without fruit to the mind, but the spirit prays, should one then not pray in the spirit. Therefore, the Apostle answers this objection, saying that one should pray in both ways, in the spirit and in the mind; because man should serve God with all the things he has from God. But from God he has spirit and mind; therefore, he should pray with both: "With all his heart he will praise God" (Sir 47:8). …

Commentary on 1 Corinthians ↗