Prayer is what gives meaning to the apostolate

“Action alone, apostolic though it may be, without prayer is merely an entrepreneurial matter. Prayer is what gives meaning to the apostolate”. The Holy Father emphasized this to a delegation from the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, whom he received in audience on Friday morning, 26 January, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The following is a translation of the Pope’s words.

Thank you very much for your visit. I appreciate your work, which is an ecclesial work that was born within the Society of Jesus.

If the apostolic work of a member of the faithful, a deacon, a priest, a consecrated man or woman, or a bishop, is carried out correctly, one strongly feels the need for prayer and intercession. Action alone, apostolic though it may be, is merely an entrepreneurial matter, without prayer. Prayer is what gives meaning to the apostolate.

I was always very impressed by what Peter said to the apostles after they established deacons. He said to them: “But we” — that is, the bishops — will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4).

That is, the first duty of a bishop is to pray. The first duty of a Christian is to pray. Prayer. Otherwise, we run the risk of becoming a purely natural, worldly institution, with political work.

So, thank you for what you do to support this mystique of prayer in the Church, in all the laity, and also in consecrated or ordained persons. Thank you for what you do.