21. We are more quickly heard when praying for ourselves, if our prayer is seasoned with love of our neighbour and especially of our adversary. — For already above he is shown to have been heard for his friends, when that which we foretold is recorded: They did as the Lord had spoken to them, and the Lord accepted the face of Job. But when immediately it is subjoined: The Lord also was turned to the penance of Job, when he prayed for his friends, it is plainly shown that even for himself, as a penitent, he deserved to be heard the more quickly, the more devoutly he interceded for others. For he makes his own prayers avail more for himself, who expends them also for others. For the more willingly is the sacrifice of prayer accepted, which in the sight of the merciful Judge is seasoned with love of one's neighbour.
Which each one then truly accumulates, if he expend it also for his adversaries. For hence it is that the Mistress of Truth says: Pray for them that persecute and calumniate you (Luke 6:28). Hence again He says: When ye stand to pray, forgive if ye have aught against any, that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your sins (Mark 11:25). But how much he obtained for himself who interceded for others is at once demonstrated, when it is added: