On the Lord's Prayer 6

And let the worshipper, dearest brothers, not be ignorant of how the tax collector prayed with the Pharisee in the temple. Not lifting his eyes shamelessly to heaven, nor raising his hands insolently, but beating his breast and bearing witness to the sins shut up within, he implored the help of the divine mercy; and while the Pharisee was pleased with himself, the one who asked in this way rather deserved to be sanctified, who did not place his hope of salvation in confidence in his own innocence, since no one is innocent, but, confessing his sins, prayed humbly; and he who pardons the humble heard him as he prayed. The Lord sets this down in his gospel and says: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus with himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, unjust, robbers, adulterers, as is also this tax collector. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' But the tax collector stood far off and would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying: 'God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I say to you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that Pharisee; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."