Pope: I have always felt supported by the prayers of the Church, especially in difficult times
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "From the first moment of my election as the Successor of St. Peter, I have always felt supported by the prayers of you all, by the prayer of the Church, especially during difficult times, I thank you from my heart" in a very personal comment Benedict XVI today spoke of the value of the prayer of the community and "praying well", which means " to turn towards God and not to our own benefit".
In his address to 20 thousand
people in St. Peter's Square for the general audience, the Pope took his cue
from the episode of the liberation of Peter from prison, as told by St. Luke. Peter
was in prison and "the Christian community prayed for him," when, in
the night, an angel appeared to him, freed him from his chains and led him out,
despite the guards and locked doors.
Benedict
XVI highlighted the various aspects of the episode: the first is that the
Christian community "when faced with difficulties, persecution responds
with prayer." An
"assiduous prayer, in solidarity with others, trusting in God." Another
aspect is that "the Apostle though in chains, feels confident in the certainty of never being alone:
the community is praying for him, the Lord is near,, he knows that Christ's power is manifested in
weakness."
The episode, the Pope said, has many similarities with the liberation of the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage. The protagonist is "the angel of the Lord", which calls for "haste" and for him to "dress quickly" for the journey and makes escape possible "despite the surveillance of the guards" and the closed gate.
"The community prays well, all night long,
deeply united. And it is a sheer joy that fills the hearts of all when the Apostle
knocks at the door unexpectedly."
In
contrast to the attitude of the community described in Letter of St. James which
addresses the issue of "crisis" of the community. Benedict XVI says the community was " in difficulty, not because of persecution but
because there are jealousies and contentions inside, and James finds two main reasons for this
situation: the first is
allowing oneself to be dominated by passions, by the dictatorship of their own
desires, egoism, the second is lack of prayer or the presence of a prayer that cannot
be defined as such because it" asks" seeks the satisfaction of
personal desires, things would change if the community prayed assiduously and
unanimously. "
"Even the discourse on God, in fact, may lose its
inner strength and testimony dries up if they are not animated, supported and
accompanied by prayer, by the continuity of a living dialogue with the Lord.'' "An important reminder for us and for our
communities, both small ones such as the family, as well as more extensive ones
such as the parish, the diocese, the whole Church. We must continually learn to
pray well, really pray, directed towards God and not towards our own good" .
The
episode of the liberation of Peter shows the "power of prayer." "Unanimous
and constant prayer - concluded the Pope - is a valuable tool to overcome the
trials that may arise in the path of life, it is by being deeply united with
God that we are deeply united to others."
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