June 20, 2012. (Romereports.com) (- ONLY VIDEO -) During Wednesday's general audience, Benedict XVI talked about fostering a close relationship with God, in order to truly feel His presence. The Pope continued his catechesis on the prayers of St. Paul by explaining that it's important to pray for one's needs, but also to thank God for everything one has.

FULL TEXT OF THE CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH:

“Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As part of our continuing reflection on prayer in the letters of Saint Paul, we now turn to the great prayer of praise and blessing found at the beginning of the Letter to the Ephesians.  
Paul blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for making known to us “the mystery of his will” (Eph 1:9), his eternal plan for our salvation.  Before the creation of the world, God “chose us in Christ” (1:4) to be his adopted children and to receive a glorious inheritance.

Through the blood of Christ’s cross, he showed the depth of his merciful love, forgave our sins and reconciled us to himself.  By the gift of the Holy Spirit, he gave us the seal and pledge of our definitive redemption in the fullness of time. Paul’s prayer invites us to contemplate the unfolding of God’s saving plan in history and to discern the signs of its presence in our own lives and in the life of the Church.  In our own prayer, may we praise the mystery of our election in Christ, and open our hearts and lives ever more fully to the transforming presence of the Blessed Trinity.

I offer a warm welcome to the Forum of Interreligious Harmony from Indonesia.  My greeting also goes to the participants in the Vatican Observatory Summer School.  I likewise greet the “Wounded Warriors” group from the United States.  Upon all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Audience, including those from Scotland, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United States, I invoke God’s blessings of joy and peace!