(June 13, 2012) Every week on Wednesday, the Pope holds a public meeting, called
the general audience, during which pilgrims and tourists who come to Rome have a chance
of seeing and hearing him speak in several languages and receive his blessing. The
general audience of June 13th was held in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience
hall. It began with a reading of a passage from the Second Letter of St. Paul to
the Corinthians in several languages. (The Pope based his discourse on this passage).
An aide greeted the Pope on behalf of the English speaking pilgrims and introduced
the various groups to him. Pope Benedict then delivered a reflection in English.
Listen: Dear
Brothers and Sisters, In our continuing reflection on prayer in the letters
of Saint Paul, we now consider the Apostle’s testimony to his own experience of contemplative
prayer. Defending the legitimacy of his apostolate, Paul appeals above all to his
profound closeness to the Lord in prayer, marked by moments of ecstasy, visions and
revelations (cf. 2 Cor 12:1ff.). Yet he speaks too of a trial which the Lord sent
him lest he become conceited: a mysterious thorn in the flesh (v. 7). Paul therefore
willingly boasts of his weakness, in order that the power of Christ might dwell in
him (v. 10). Through this experience of mystical prayer, Paul realized that God’s
Kingdom comes about not by our own efforts but by the power of God’s grace shining
through our poor earthen vessels (cf. 2 Cor 4:7). We see that contemplative prayer
is both exalting and troubling, since we experience both the beauty of God’s love
and the sense of our own weakness. Paul teaches us the need for daily perseverance
in prayer, even at times of dryness and difficulty, for it is there that we experience
the life-changing power of God’s love. I am pleased to greet the participants
in the Twenty-first Intercoiffure World Congress. I also welcome the visitors from
the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. My cordial greeting goes to the pilgrims from
the Catholic Society of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary. I thank the Cantores Minores
from Finland and the other choirs for their praise of God in song. At
this time, our thoughts and prayers are with all those taking part in the International
Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland. I invite all of you to join me in praying
that the Congress will bear rich spiritual fruit in a greater appreciation of our
Lord’s gift of himself to us in the Eucharist and a deeper love of the mystery of
the Church, which draws us into ever fuller communion with him and with one another
through the daily celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice. Upon all the
English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today’s Audience, including those
from England, New Zealand, Samoa and the United States I invoke God’s blessings of
joy and peace!