Prayer matter of eternal life, death for Christians, pope says

Published: 2007-03-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said prayer was not optional for Christians but a matter of eternal life and death. He made the remarks at a noon blessing March 4, the day after finishing a weeklong spiritual retreat at the Vatican. The pope said Christ demonstrated in key moments of his own life that prayer is not an "evasion of reality" but a way to deepen the acceptance of life's responsibilities and God's will. "Dear brothers and sisters, prayer is not an accessory, an optional, but rather is a question of life or of death. In fact, only someone who prays and who trusts in God with filial love can enter into eternal life," he said. He encouraged everyone to find time for silence, meditation and prayer during Lent.

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