Leo XIV: “In our time, prayer may seem pointless”

St. Peter's Basilica hosted Pope Leo XIV's catechesis on this first Wednesday in August, due to today's high temperatures in the Eternal City. The Pope resumed his reflection on the conciliar constitution on the liturgy. Sacrosanctum Concilium (SC) focusing, on this day, on the “ecclesial dimension of the prayer »liturgical.".

 First, the pontiff recalled that “it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us to pray” and stated that 
“In our time, in contexts dominated by a mindset focused on efficiency and consumerism, prayer may seem pointless and ridiculous,” or even “a form of escapism.”. 

The pontiff also pointed out that “in many Christian families, prayer is no longer passed down, while many people run the risk of confusing it with just another technique—one that is psychological in nature and geared toward personal well-being.” These realities further highlight the need to discover the truth of Christian prayer.

On this point, the Pope sought to bring the content of *Sacrosanctum Concilium* up to date, noting how this Apostolic Constitution recognized this need for prayer. Liturgical prayer is the place where God and each one of us meet, the Pope explained.

«In the Constitution, in fact, the term “prayer” refers to the entire liturgy. This perspective is decisive, because it guided the liturgical reform, making it the cornerstone of the faithful’s active participation. »The liturgy is, above all, a place of encounter—the initiative of God who draws near to humanity in his Son,” he affirmed.

At this point, the Pope highlighted the Liturgy of the Hours as the backbone of the Church’s liturgical prayer, which «must be embraced and lived out more and more in the daily lives of the baptized and of communities. »For so many people who want to learn to pray—especially catechumens—it can offer the path and the school of Christian prayer.”.

The Liturgy of the Hours, which, as the Pope has emphasized, is linked to the Eucharist and in which «every hour is an act of hope: during our earthly pilgrimage, we keep vigil with the whole Church, awaiting the Lord’s glorious return.».