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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Gregory of Nyssa
But what meaneth His bending of knees? of which it is said, And he kneeled down, and prayed. It is the way of men to pray to their superiors with their faces on the ground, testifying by the action that the greater of the two are those who are asked. Now it is plain that human nature contains nothing worthy of God's imitation. Accordingly the tokens of respect which we evince to one another, confessing ourselves to be inferior to our neighbours, we have transferred to the humiliation of the Incomparable Nature. …
Cyril of Alexandria
But not to do good by words only, He went forward a little and prayed; as it follows, And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast. You will every where find Him praying apart, to teach you that with a devout mind and quiet heart we should speak with the most high God. He did not betake Himself to prayer, as if He was in want of another's help, who is the Almighty power of the Father, but that we may learn not to slumber in temptation, but rather to be instant in prayer.
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
He was torn from them about a stone's cast, as though He would typically remind them that to Him they should point the stone, that is, up to Him bring the intention of the law which was written on stone.
Bede
And he was separated from them about a stone's throw. And kneeling down, he prayed, saying. Having given the apostles the command to pray, he himself, separated from them, prays alone for all, signifying that his prayer is as far removed from ours as his passion is, and he kneels to show the humility of his mind by the posture of his body. …
Bonaventure
Third, as regards the devotion of prayer on the part of the manner of praying, he adds: And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and kneeling down he prayed: in which he shows the devotion and humility and reverence of the heart. Whence Bede: "He prayed on bended knees, so that he might show the humility of mind through the posture of the body." And this indeed was fitting: for such prayer is most pleasing, according to that passage in Ecclesiasticus thirty-five: "The prayer of him who humbles himself shall pierce the …
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