Pope Francis Warns Groups Advocating For Change in the Church without Prayer

The Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis has on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, warned Catholic groups that are advocating for change in the Church without prayer.

The Pope, in his weekly general audience, stressed the important role of prayer in advancing the Church, noting that the devil seeks to disrupt prayer, since praying is what nourishes faith.

The Holy Father stated: “We need to make this tough decision. These are interesting proposals, but should we advance them only through discussion? Or only through the media? Where is prayer? Prayer is what opens the door to the Holy Spirit, who inspires us to move forward”.

Pope Francis recalled that the saints changed the world and the Church with the power of prayer, and not with money, influence, or the media. “Will the Son of Man, when he comes, find faith on earth?’ Or will he find only organizations, like groups of entrepreneurs of the faith, well-organized groups, doing works of charity? Or will he find faith?

He also asked Catholics to ask themselves about the quality of their prayer. “How do I pray? Do I pray certain that I am in the Church and pray with the Church? Or do I pray according to my own ideas, and make my ideas become prayer? This is a pagan prayer, not a Christian prayer”.

Pope Francis said that the mission of the Church is to pray and to teach others how to pray. Leading by example, he prayed one ‘Our Father’, and gave a blessing before leaving.

He urged the faithful to remember those who “first taught us to pray,” and “planted a seed within us that matures through our experience of the Christian life, adding that the lives of Christians are not exempt from challenges and moments of crisis, and that in life’s difficult moments “we come to realize the importance of prayer in strengthening our faith and hope.”

(SOURCE: NIGERIA CATHOLIC NETWORK)