Every Wednesday, the last several Popes have held a General Audience from the Vatican, which thousands of pilgrims from around the world attend. The Popes have used these addresses to deliver catechesis on various topics.
On May 6, 2020 Pope Francis began a new series on prayer that we will be reflecting on. The pope stressed the importance of prayer, saying it is a “breath of faith,” a cry arising from the hearts of those “who believe and entrust themselves to God.”
In the first audience, Pope Francis invites us to meditate on the story of Bartimaeus (Mk 10:46-52), the blind man in Jericho who cries out as Jesus passes by, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Ponder his faith, his humility, his “beautiful stubbornness”. See how he begs, pleads, and asks for the desires of his heart.
May we “always persevere in prayer, especially in our darkest moments, and ask the Lord with confidence.” We cry out with that beautiful prayer, “Jesus have mercy on me!”
Read Pope Francis’ Catechesis on prayer 1. The mystery of prayer >>>