» 11/30/2011 13:18 VATICAN Pope encourages initiative to abolish the death penalty Benedict XVI begins a series of catechesis dedicated to the prayer of Jesus, it "runs through all his life as a secret channel that irrigates his existence, relationships, gestures and which leads him, with a progressive firmness, towards the total gift of self according to the plan of love of God the Father. " Today Christians must be "witnesses of prayer, because our world is often closed to the Divine horizon and to hope that brings an encounter with God."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Benedict XVI encourages initiatives that aim to abolish the death penalty and those that seek to respect the dignity of prisoners. Benedict XVI today expressed his support against the death penalty in a greeting in English addressed to participants at a meeting organized by the Sant'Egidio Community on the theme "No Justice without Life." "I express the hope - he said - that your deliberations will encourage political and legislative initiatives promoted by a growing number of countries to eliminate the death penalty and to continue the substantial progress made in conforming penal law to both the human dignity of prisoners and the effective maintenance of public order. "
Previously, during his address to the eight thousand people who attended the general audience, the Pope urged Christians to be "witnesses of prayer, because our world is often closed the Divine horizon and hope that leads us to an encounter with God. " And along the path of prayer, "which requires continuity and consistency" we can help others follow it, "because it is also true that in the following the path of prayer other paths are opened." A prayer that "is not occasional, but constant," and “confident," "able to enlighten our lives, as Jesus teaches us”. In fact at the general audience today, Benedict XVI began a new series of reflections dedicated to how Christ prayed, following on from those dedicated to prayer in the Old Testament.
"Today - he said - we begin to look to Jesus, his prayer, which runs through all his life like a secret channel that irrigates his existence, relationships, gestures and leads him, with a progressive firmness, to the gift of self, according to the plan of love of God the Father. He is also the master of our prayer, indeed He is the active and fraternal support of our every supplication to the Father. "
The period that followed Christ’s baptism in the River Jordan is "particularly significant", when he "entered into a most personal and prolonged prayer ". The baptism to which John the Baptist invited people was "a strong appeal to truly live as children of Abraham, converted to good", "submission to baptism marked a turning point, the leaving behind a behavior linked to sin and the beginning of a new life. Even Jesus accepts the invitation, "but the question arises as to why Jesus who "knew no sin" underwent this baptism" of repentance and conversion. " With that gesture, the Pope explained, "Jesus, without sin, makes visible his solidarity with those who acknowledge their sins, who choose to repent and change their lives, to understand that being part of God's people means entering into a vision of the newness of life, of living according to God. "
"In this act Jesus anticipates the cross, he begins his work by taking the place of sinners, taking on his shoulders the burden of guilt of all humanity, fulfilling the will of the Father."
And, after baptism, gathering in prayer, "he shows his intimate bond with the Father in Heaven, he experiences his fatherhood, he becomes aware of the demanding beauty of his love, and in the interview with him will receive a confirmation of his mission." In words that echo from Heaven "The Son, my beloved," "there is an anticipation of the paschal mystery, the cross and the resurrection."
"Jesus' teaching on prayer certainly comes from they way he learned to pray in the family, but has its deep and essential roots in his being the Son of God, in his unique relationship with God the Father" and in the Gospels "Jesus' prayer are always placed at the intersection of the inclusion in the tradition of his people and the novelty of a unique personal relationship with God. " "At the same time, they mark moments of particular importance for Jesus, who knowingly inserts himself within this plan, fully faithful to the will of the Father."
"In our prayer we too must learn, more and more, to enter into this story of salvation of which Jesus is the summit, renewing before God our personal decision to open ourselves to his will, to ask Him for the strength to conform our will to His, in all our lives, in obedience to His project of love for us. " A special place, in prayer is "the prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture": "listening, meditating, being silent before the Lord who speaks to us is an art, which is learnt through perseverance. Certainly prayer is a gift that asks, however, to be accepted; it is God's work, but requires a commitment and continuity on our part, continuity and consistency are especially important.
