Pope Francis reflects on the importance of vocal prayer in his catechesis during Wednesday’s General Audience.
By Christopher Wells
The prayer, Pope Francis said at Wednesday’s general audience, “is a dialogue with God; and all creatures, in a sense, dialogue with God ”.
For human beings, he continued, “prayer becomes word, invocation, hymn, poetry … The divine Word becomes flesh, and in the flesh of every person the word returns to God in prayer ”.
The importance of words
The catechesis of the Holy Father began with a reflection on the words, which not only come from us, but also “determine us to a certain extent.” In the Bible, words bring it to light by assuring that “nothing human is excluded or censored.”
That is why, Pope Francis said, “that is why Holy Scripture teaches us to pray, sometimes even with bold words.” The human authors of the Bible intend to show humanity as it really is, to the point of even including “harsh expressions against enemies … words that belong to human reality and that enter the Sacred Scriptures ”.
They are included, the Pope explained, “to declare to us that if, in the face of violence, there are no words to make bad feelings harmless, to channel them so that they do not hurt, the world would be overwhelmed.”
The surest way to pray to God
Pope Francis points out that “the first human prayer is always a vocal recitation. The lips always move first ”.
While acknowledging that prayer is not simply repeating meaningless words, he insisted, however, that vocal prayer is the “safest” means of speaking to God. He said feelings can be uncertain and unpredictable, as can the graces that come from prayer. At times, the mysterious “prayer of the heart.”
However, vocal prayer “can always be practiced” and is necessary, even when our feelings are confused.
Whispered prayer
“We should all have the humility of certain elders who, in church, gently recite the prayers they learned when they were children,” Pope Francis said. “This prayer does not disturb the silence, but testifies to his fidelity to the duty of prayer practiced throughout his life, without fail.”
He said that these “practitioners of humble prayer” are often the great intercessors of our parishes. ”They too, like all of us, sometimes face dark nights and“ empty moments. ”But, the Pope said, “you can always stay true to vocal prayer.”
Therefore, Pope Francis concluded, “we must not despise vocal prayer,” which is the only “sure” way to “direct to God the questions he wants to hear.”