Pope, Curia reflect on prayer and the Psalms during Lenten retreat

February 19, 2013

Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, who is leading the annual Lenten retreat for the Pope and leaders of the Roman Curia, is devoting the retreat’s 17 meditations to prayer and the Psalms. The title of the retreat is “Ars Orandi, Ars Credendi [The Art of Praying, the Art of Believing]: The Face of God and the Face of Man in the Psalm Prayers.”

Cardinal Ravasi, the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, devoted the first meditation to the act of praying. The prelate compared Pope Benedict, who will devote the remainder of his life to prayer after he leaves to the papacy, to Moses, who interceded for the Israelites as they battled Amalek.

Citing Psalms 119 and 23 in his second meditation, Cardinal Ravasi reflected on the Word of God in creation and revelation, before devoting his third meditation to two senses of “sun” in Psalm 19. “The sun blazes in the sky and speaks of the cosmic revelation,” said Cardinal Ravasi. “But then there is the Word of God, which is another sun, which enlightens us to the full.”

 

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Further information:

• Card. Ravasi leads Roman Curia on journey of faith (Vatican Radio)
• Pope, Curia leaders begin week-long retreat (CWN, 2/18)