Pope at Audience: Prayer is an act of hope

Vatican News

Pope Leo resumed his General Audiences on Wednesday, 5 August, following several weeks of summer rest at Castel Gandolfo. Addressing thousands of faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Pope continued his reflections on the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium, focusing on the importance of liturgical prayer.

“As the Apostle Paul suggests, it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us to pray,” the Pope said. “From the day of Pentecost, the Spirit dwells in the Church, inspiring every one of her activities and, in particular, prayer.” Since then, he noted, the Church “has never failed to come together to celebrate the paschal mystery”.

Rediscovering prayer in its true form

“In our time,” the Pope continued, “in contexts dominated by an efficiency-driven and consumerist mindset, prayer may seem pointless and trivial.”

In a world “where science and technology claim to provide all the answers”, praying may appear to be a form of escapism or just another psychological technique aimed at personal well-being. Prayer, however, the Pope stressed, “is worth rediscovering in its true form”.

A place of encounter with God

The Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium took this need seriously. The conciliar document established that the term “prayer” designates the liturgy as a whole. This perspective is decisive, the Holy Father explained, “for it guided the liturgical reform, making the active participation of the faithful its central pillar”.

The liturgy is presented first and foremost as “the place of encounter, of God’s initiative in drawing near to humanity in His Son”.

Sanctifying daily life

Every week and every day, the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours are “the breath of the life of the Church, which makes the Holy Spirit circulate through her Body”, the Pope said. In this prayer, Christ “joins the entire community of mankind to Himself, associating it with His own singing of this canticle of divine praise”.

“Bound to the Eucharist, whose light it prolongs, the Liturgy of the Hours sanctifies the time of our daily lives,” Pope Leo said, before describing the different moments of prayer: “in the morning, we begin the day with faith and gratitude; at midday, we ask for the strength to remain faithful amidst our labours; in the evening, once our work is done, Vespers accompany the moment of sunset; at night, we fall asleep entrusting ourselves to God’s peace.”

Pope Leo concluded by emphasising that “each Hour is an act of hope”, and that “During our earthly pilgrimage, we keep watch, awaiting with the whole Church the glorious return of the Lord.”