May 4, 2011. (Romereports.com). Benedict XVI said that
“everyone needs to learn to
pray with more authenticity” because he noted that
“life without
prayer has no meaning or points of reference". This comes as part of his new series of catechesis dedicated to prayer for his coming general audiences.
Benedict
XVI“Christian
prayer is grounded in the gift of new life brought by Christ; it is
an 'art' in which Christ, the Son of God, is our supreme teacher.”
Benedict XVI said the best example for Christians on how
to pray comes from the Gospels, when Jesus is directed toward God
“with an intimate and constant dialogue.”The pope
reviewed the different ways that man has prayed through the ancient
cultures of Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece and Rome. He said each one is
an example of how man has always been directed to God to understand
the meaning of life.
Benedict
XVI“We
find eloquent expressions of a desire to see God, to experience his
mercy and forgiveness, to grow in virtue and to experience divine
help in all that we do. In these cultures there is also a recognition
that prayer opens man to a deeper understanding of our dependence on
God and life's ultimate meaning.”
The pope explained that the contribution of Jesus was to
present prayer as way of opening a deep and personal relationship
with God.
Benedict XVI made sure to greet the Polish pilgrims
in the general audience who traveled to Rome for the beatification
and pointed to John Paul II as an example of confidence in the Virgin
Mary.
The pope also noted that in many parts of the world, the
month of May is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and placed it as a
model to follow the will of God.
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