杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Prayer, 杏MAP导航 Francis said at his General Audience on Wednesday, 鈥渋s dialogue with God; and every creature, in a certain sense, engages in dialogue with God.鈥�

For human beings, he continued, 鈥減rayer becomes word, invocation, hymn, poetry鈥� The divine Word is made flesh, and in the flesh of every person the word returns to God in prayer.鈥�

The importance of words

The Holy Father鈥檚 catechesis began with a reflection on words, which not only proceed from us, but also 鈥渢o some extent shape us.鈥� In the Bible, words bring everything to light, ensuring that 鈥渘othing human is excluded, censored.鈥�

That, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渋s why Sacred Scripture teaches us to pray, sometimes even with bold words.鈥� The human authors of the Bible are intent upon showing humanity as it really is, to the point even of including 鈥渉arsh expressions against enemies鈥� words that belong to human reality and which find their way into the Sacred Scriptures.鈥�

They are included, the 杏MAP导航 explained, 鈥渢o testify to us that if, in the face of violence, there are no words to make bad feelings harmless, to channel them so they do no harm, then the world would be overwhelmed.鈥�

The surest way to pray to God

杏MAP导航 Francis notes that 鈥渢he first human prayer is always a vocal recitation. The lips always move first.鈥�

While recognizing that prayer does not consist in simply repeating words without meaning, he nonetheless insisted that vocal prayer is the 鈥渟urest鈥� means of speaking with God. Feelings, he said, can be uncertain and unpredictable, as can the graces that come from prayer. At times, the mysterious 鈥減rayer of the heart鈥� can be lacking.

Vocal prayer, however, 鈥渃an always be practiced鈥� and is necessary, even when our feelings are confused.

Whispered prayer

鈥淲e should all have the humility of certain elderly people who, in church鈥� recite softly the prayers they learned as children,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said. 鈥淭hat prayer does not disturb the silence, but testifies to their fidelity to the duty of prayer practised throughout their lives, without fail.鈥�

These 鈥減ractitioners of humble prayer,鈥� he said, 鈥渁re often the great intercessors of our parishes.鈥�  They too, like all of us, sometimes face dark nights, and 鈥渆mpty moments.鈥� But, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渙ne can always remain faithful to vocal prayer.鈥�

Therefore, 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded, 鈥渨e must not despise vocal prayer,鈥� which is the only 鈥渟ure鈥� way 鈥渢o direct to God the questions He wants to hear.鈥�