Pope Francis reflects on the importance of vocal prayer in catechesis during Wednesday’s General Audience.
By Christopher Wells
Prayer, Pope Francis said at his general audience on Wednesday, “is dialogue with God; and each creature, in a sense, engages in dialogue with God. ”
For human beings, he continued, “prayer becomes word, invocation, hymn, poetry … The divine word becomes flesh and in the body of each 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 “to some extent shape us.” In the Bible, words bring everything to light, making sure that “nothing human is excluded, censored.”
That is why, Pope Francis said, “that is why the 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 including “harsh expressions against enemies … words that belong to human reality and find their way into Holy Scripture.”
These are included, the Pope explained, “to confess that if, in the face of violence, there are no words that make harmless feelings harmless, channel them so that they do no harm, then the world would be overwhelmed.”
The surest way to pray to God
Pope Francis notes that “the first human prayer is always a vocal recitation. Lips always move first. ”
Although he acknowledged that prayer is not a simple repetition of meaningless words, he insisted that vocal prayer is the “safest” means of speaking to God. Feelings, he said, can be uncertain and unpredictable, as can the graces that come from prayer. Sometimes the mysterious “prayer of the heart” may be missing.
However, vocal prayer “can always be practiced” and is necessary, even when our feelings are confused.
Whispered prayer
“We should all have the humiliation of certain elderly people who, in church … slowly recite the prayers they learned as children,” Pope Francis said. “That prayer does not disturb the silence, but confesses their fidelity to the duty of prayer practiced throughout their lives, without fail.”
He “said that these” practitioners of humble prayer “are often the great mediators of our parishes.” And they, like everyone else, sometimes face dark nights and “empty moments.” But, the pope said, “anyone can remain faithful to vocal prayer.”
Therefore, Pope Francis concluded that “we must not despise vocal prayer,” which is the only “sure” way to direct to God the questions He wants to hear.