Pope: We ask Mary for world peace, the end of the pandemic, our conversion

Tomorrow the day of prayer, fasting and works of charity proposed by the High Committee of Human Fraternity. "I invite and encourage everyone to join this event: let us join together as brothers in asking the Lord to save humanity from the pandemic, to illuminate scientists and to heal the sick".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Prayer "is an impetus, it is an invocation that goes beyond ourselves", "Prayer is the voice of an “I” that gropes, that tentatively fumbles, in search of a “You”". With it, the Christian "enters into a relationship with a God with the most tender face, who does not want to instill any fear in men", to whom one can "ask for everything, explain everything, tell everything".

The theme of the second catechesis for the general audience dedicated by Pope Francis to prayer and held in the private library was "Christian prayer".

On the day of the liturgical remembrance of Our Lady of Fatima the Pope recommended we turn to Mary, asking her "peace for the world, the end of the pandemic, the spirit of penance and our conversion".

"Prayer is an impetus, it is an invocation that goes beyond ourselves: it is something that is born within the intimacy of our being and reaches beyond because it senses a nostalgia for an encounter. That nostalgia which is more than a need, more than a necessity: it is a way. Prayer is the voice of an “I” that gropes, that tentatively fumbles, in search of a “You”. The encounter between the “I” and the “You” cannot be done with calculators; it is a human encounter and very often one proceeds tentatively to find the “You” that my “I” is looking for. The prayer of a Christian is born, instead, from a revelation: the “You” has not remained shrouded in mystery, but has entered into relationship with us. Christianity is the religion that continually celebrates the “manifestation” of God, that is, His epiphany. "

“The prayer of the Christian enters into relation with the God whose face is most tender, who does not want to instil any fear in men and women. This is the first characteristic of Christian prayer. If men and women had always been accustomed to approach God somewhat timidly, a bit frightened by the awe-inspiring and tremendous mystery, if they had been accustomed to venerate Him with a servile attitude, similar to that of a subject who does not want to be lacking in respect to his lord, the Christian turns to Him daring to confidently call on Him with the name of “Father”. Rather, Jesus uses another word: “Papa”. Christianity has banished from the connection with God any type of “feudal” relationship. In the patrimony of our faith, expressions such as “subjection”, “slavery”, or “vassalage” are not present; but words such as “covenant”, “friendship”, “communion” and “proximity” are."

" God is the friend, the ally, the bridegroom. One can establish a relationship built on confidence with Him in prayer. This is so true that in the “Our Father”, Jesus teaches us to present a series of requests to Him. We can ask God for anything, everything; explain everything, tell Him everything. It does not matter if we feel lacking in our relationship with God: that we are not great friends, that we are not grateful children, that we are not faithful spouses. He continues loving us. And at times He knocks on the door of our heart but He is not intrusive: He waits. God’s patience with us is the patience of a father, of one who loves us greatly. I would say, it is the patience of a father and a mother together."

Finally, in greetings to the Arabic-speaking faithful, Francis recalled that prayer "is the way to communicate and to listen to God. With this spirit I have accepted the invitation of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity to dedicate tomorrow, 14 May, to prayer, fasting and works of charity. I invite and encourage all of you to join in this event.  Let us unite as brothers and sisters to ask the Lord to save humanity from the pandemic, to enlighten scientists and to heal the sick. May the Lord bless you all and protect you always from every evil!".