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Hot Item #1:
Prayer and Reform of our Lives is called for by the crises facing the Middle East and around the world and the threats to world peace. In his General Audience on 28 May 2025, during the Jubilee 2025 catechesis on "Jesus Christ our Hope," he stated in the Appeal section: "In these days, my thoughts turn often to the Ukrainian people, affected by serious new attacks against civilians and infrastructure. I assure all the victims, in particular children and families, of my closeness and my prayer. I strongly reiterate my appeal to stop the war and to support every initiative of dialogue and peace. I ask everyone to join in prayer for peace in Ukraine and wherever there is suffering because of war." |
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Greetings In Christ,
Pope Leo XIV asked Christians to pray:
"I urge every Catholic parish in the world to take part in World Mission Sunday. Your prayers, your support will help spread the Gospel, provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories."1 This invitation aligns with reflecting on the baptismal call to mission: "let us commit ourselves anew to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus our Hope to the ends of the earth."1 His Apostolic Letter In Unitate Fidei (November 23, 2025), marking the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, includes a concluding prayer invoking the Holy Spirit for renewed faith, unity, hope, and charity within the Church, but does not issue a direct call for Catholics to pray for specific intentions.2
“Lord, teach us to pray.” This is what the Savior’s disciples asked him. Of course, any answer coming from him would be a perfect answer. His answer was what we call the “Our Father” or the “Lord’s Prayer.” This prayer is a perfect model of how we should pray and for what things we should pray, and in what order.
Commentary: St. Cyprian, an early Church Father, shares some wisdom with us:
“We say not My Father, but Our Father, for the teacher of peace and master of unity would not have men pray singly and severally, since when any prays, he is not to pray for himself only. Our prayer is general and for all, and when we pray, we pray not for one person but for us all, because we all are one [in the Body of Christ]. So also He willed that one should pray for all, according as Himself in one [who] did bear us all.”
St. Cyprian also notes: “Or, He bids us in praying beg that God may he glorified in our life; as if we were to say, Make us to live so that all things may glorify You through us. For Hallowed signifies the same as glorified. It is a petition worthy to be made by man to God, to ask nothing before the glory of the Father, but to postpone all things to His praise."
And again, Cyprian says, “For this we daily make petition, since we need a daily sanctification, in order that we who sin day by day, may cleanse afresh our offenses by a continual sanctification.”
We pray that our Lord’s kingdom come, for Christians know it will come whether we pray or not, because Jesus said it would. St. Augustine wrote, “When they pray, Let thy kingdom come, what else do they pray for who are already holy, but that they may persevere in that holiness they now have given to them? For not otherwise will the kingdom of God come, than as it is certain it will come to those that persevere to the end.”
We pray for God's Divine Mercy!
May the Lord be with you!
