Pope opens series of talks on Christ's prayers

November 30, 2011

Pope Benedict XVI began a new series of weekly meditations, on the prayer life of Jesus Christ, at his regular Wednesday audience of November 30.

The Pope recently completed a series of talks on the Psalms and canticles of the Old Testament, which he described as a “school of prayer.” He told the 5,500 people who gathered in the Paul VI auditorium that for Christ, prayer was “like a a hidden canal irrigating his life, relationships and actions, and guiding Him with increasing firmness to the total gift of self, in keeping with the loving plan of God the Father.”

The Holy Father began the series by speaking about Christ’s Baptism. St. John the Baptist himself questioned why Jesus, who was without sin, should submit to baptism. The Pope explained that by doing so, Jesus “expressed his solidarity with people who recognize their sins, who chose to repent and change their lives. He helps us to understand that being part of the people of God means entering into a new life, a life in conformity with God.”

After that rite, the Pope continued, Jesus prayed to his Father, who responded by confirming Christ’s mission on earth. Pope Benedict observed: “Through prayer Jesus lives in uninterrupted contact with the Father in order to achieve his project of love for mankind."

The prayer life of Jesus “enters into all stages of his ministry and into every day of his life,” the Pope said. “It is not interrupted by fatigue.” The Holy Father urged the faithful to follow Christ’s example and “maintain an intense relationship with God.” Christians must “be witnesses of prayer,” the Pope added, “because our world often remains closed to the divine.”

 

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Further information:

• Christians Are Called to Be Witnesses of Prayer (VIS)
• Windows open to Heaven (L'Osservatore Romano)