Papal preacher says to pray during life's dark moments

Published: 2006-03-17

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- During life's dark moments, caused by either physical suffering or mental or emotional anguish, Jesus teaches the faithful to pray to God, said the preacher of the papal household. When Jesus was in the Garden of Olives in Gethsemane, his soul was tormented by the prospect of his imminent death, said Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa. Jesus sat and prayed to God and implored him to "remove this cup from me; yet not my will but thine be done," the preacher said in a Lenten reflection offered March 17 to Pope Benedict XVI and senior Vatican officials. "Human life is sprinkled with many brief nights of Gethsemane" which might be caused by experiencing a health scare, a misunderstanding, others' indifference, fear of the consequences of one's mistakes, or even a loss of faith in God, he said. "Jesus teaches us that the first thing to do in these cases is to turn to God with prayer," said the Capuchin. But, he asked, what if one has already prayed to God without success? "Keep on praying ... with greater intensity," he said.

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .