Pope Benedict: The importance of prayer in the family
After a busy weekend of Christmas ceremonies Pope Benedict welcomed the faithful on
Wednesday who had gathered in the Paul VI hall for his last General Audience of 2011.
Continuing his catechesis on prayer, the Pope told those gathered that families should
be schools of prayer. We must, he continued, follow the example of the Holy Family
of Nazareth.
“May the example of the Holy Family inspire all Christian families
to be schools of prayer, where parents and children alike come to know that closeness
to God which we joyfully celebrate in these days of Christmas.”The Holy Father explained
that prayer is an inescapable model for Christians, because it is through prayer,
“that we draw near to God with intimacy and depth”.
Jesus’ unique relationship
with his heavenly Father was reflected in the prayer life of the Holy Family and stands
at the heart of all Christian prayer.
The Pope went on to say that it is
important that parents provide an example of prayerful meditation to their children
just like Mary and Joseph did.
“In the home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
we learn to contemplate the mystery of God’s presence and to grow as faithful disciples
of Christ. The Gospels present Mary as the supreme model of prayerful mediation on
the mysteries of Christ’s life; in praying the Rosary, in fact, we unite ourselves
to her contemplation of those mysteries in faith and hope. Saint Joseph fulfilled
his vocation as the father of the Holy Family by teaching Jesus the importance of
quiet fidelity to work, prayer and observance of the precepts of the Law.” Concluding
his catechesis Pope Benedict urged the faithful to “rediscover the beauty of praying
together as a family.
Finally, the Holy Father had greetings for all those
in the Paul VI Hall in various languages including English.
“I offer a
warm welcome to the students and teachers from the Oak International Academies. Upon
all the English-speaking visitors present, including the pilgrimage groups from Ireland,
and the United States, I cordially invoke an abundance of joy and peace in Christ
our Newborn Saviour!” Listen