What is the connection between prayer and purity of heart?

Pope Gregory the Great was known for his love of the writings of the Eastern Fathers such as St. Athanasius and St. Cyril the Great, and thus he organized a group to translate their writings from Greek to Latin. He says:

“Now if we thoroughly wipe away these two [hands’ iniquity and wickedness in the tabernacle], we then directly ‘lift our face without spot’ to God. For the soul is the inner face of man, by which same we are known, that we may be regarded with love by our Maker. Now we are to lift up this same face, to raise the soul in God by appliance to the exercises of prayer. But there is a spot that pollutes the uplifted face, when consciousness of its own guilt accuses the mind intent; for it [the soul] is forthwith dashed from all confidence of hope, if when busied in prayer it be stung with recollection of sin not yet subdued. For it distrusts its being able to obtain what it longs for, in that it bears in mind its still refusing to do what it has heard from God. Hence it is said by John, Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God; and whatsoever we ask we shall receive of Him (1 John 3:21–22). Hence Solomon says, He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination (Prov. 28:9). For our heart blames us in offering up our prayers, when it calls to mind that it is set in opposition to the precepts of Him, Whom it implores.”¹⁰⁷

“For they make their prayer to God, but never obtain to be listened to, who set at nought the precepts of the Lord, when He enjoins them. Whence it is written: He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination (Prov. 28:9). So long then as Eliphaz believed that blessed Job was not heard, he determined that that person had surely done wrong in his practice.”¹⁰⁸

“God in his justice rejects iniquity, and does not accept sin (Job 14:17), but since He ministers our salvation, He longs for man, the work of His hands. In the midst of distress, Job cries out to God but it is as though God cannot hear him. However, when it is time for the resurrection, God will call him to rise and Job will answer; thus he encounters God who longs for the work of His hands, for Job will bear the reflection of the glory of God upon him.”

“ You shall call me, and I will answer You (Job 14:15) … For now so long as we are subject to corruption, we do not in any wise ‘answer’ our Creator, seeing that whereas

106 St. Dorotheos of Gaza, “Directions on Spiritual Training” in Early Fathers From the Philokalia , translated from the Russian text, “Dobrotolubiye,” by E. Kadloubovsky and G. E. H. Palmer, eighth edition (London: Faber and Faber, Ltd., 1981) 106: pp. 176–177.

107 Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job 1.10.27 (LFHCC 18:599) amended.

108 Gregory the Great, Morals on the Book of Job 1.16.26 (LFHCC 21:241).

corruption is far from incorruption, there is no similarity suitable to our answering. But of that change it is written When He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). Then therefore we shall truly ‘answer God,’ Who ‘calls,’ when at the bidding of the Supreme Incorruption we shall arise incorruptible; and because the creature is not able to earn this by itself, but it is brought to pass by the gift of Almighty God alone, that it should be changed to that exceeding glory of incorruption, it is rightly subjoined: You will stretch forth Your right hand to the work of Your hands .

“As if he said in plain words; ‘For this reason Your corruptible creature is able to hold fast unto incorruption, because he is lifted up by the hands of Your power, and is kept by the grace of Your regard, that he should hold fast.’ For the human creature by this alone, that it is a creature, has it inherent in itself to sink down below itself, but man has obtained it from his Creator, that he should both be caught above himself by contemplation, and held fast in himself by incorruption [cf. 1 Cor. 15:53]. And so that the creature may not fall away beneath himself, but hold on in incorruption, he is lifted to the steadfastness of immutability by the right hand of His Maker … who can estimate the bountifulness of Divine Mercy, that He should bring man after sin to such a height of glory? God takes account of the bad things we do, yet by the grace of His lovingkindness He remits them to us in mercy. And hence it is added; For now You number my steps, but You spare my sins (Job 14:16).”¹⁰⁹