61. The prayer of the Church seeking to be delivered is not immediately heard. For what reason. — For holy Church, in the time of her persecution, stands by faith and cries out by her desires. But she grieves as though she were not regarded, while she sees her vows in tribulations deferred. For by a deep counsel Almighty God, when His saints are pressed by the persecutions of their adversaries, and cry out with unceasing entreaties that they may be delivered, is wont to defer the voices of those who ask, that the merits of those who suffer may increase — so that they may be the more heard as to their merit the sooner they are not heard as to their wish. Whence it is written elsewhere: My God, I will cry by day, and Thou wilt not hear; and in the night (Ps. XXI, 5).
And the very profit of the delay in being heard is presently added, when there is immediately subjoined: And not unto foolishness for me (Ibid.). For it avails to multiply the wisdom of the saints that they receive their petitions late, so that from the delay desire may grow, and from desire understanding may be increased. But when the understanding is intensified, a more ardent affection toward God is opened within it. And the affection becomes capable of meriting heavenly things in proportion as it has been long-suffering in its waiting. Yet amid all this, grief urges the patience of the saints to a cry, and, as they are deferred and profit thereby, they fear lest, their strength failing, they be despised and reprobated. There follows: