Pope at Audience: Prayer is an act of hope

August 5, 2026 · 1 min read

Pope Leo delivers his fifth catechesis on Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Liturgy, reflecting on the ecclesial dimension of liturgical prayer and describing the liturgy as “the place of encounter, of God’s initiative in drawing near to humanity in His Son”.

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Source: Vatican News · Read the full story →

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George Anderson

The bit about liturgy being the place where God takes the initiative and draws near in His Son really struck me. Makes me think of how the Divine Liturgy always feels like He's the one inviting us, not the other way round. Simple but solid point.

Ольга Бойко

Yes, I also liked how the Pope said that the liturgy is a place where God himself takes the initiative and approaches us in the Son. In our service, too, it always feels as if He is calling us, and we are not pulling Him. A simple thought, but in the church it is very important.

Krzysztof Kowalski

Yes, the idea of God's initiative in the liturgy is strong. At our Divine Liturgy, I always have the impression that He invites us to the table, and not we force Him. Simple, but it helps in prayer, especially when you are tired after work.

Radu Rusu

Yes, this part with God's initiative in the liturgy stuck in my head too. At our work, especially on Sunday mornings when I come tired from the road with the truck, I feel exactly what he says: He calls us to the table, we don't drag him. Simple and true. Thanks for the article.

Юлія Марченко

Yes, Olga, it was this part about God's initiative that touched me too. In our Odessa parish, at the early liturgy, there is often such a quiet feeling, as if He is the first to approach, and we only respond. And in which church do you most often go, where does it feel like this?

Barbara Wiśniewska

Yes, this thought about God's initiative in the liturgy is very accurate. At our Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox church in Wola, especially when I arrive tired after a whole day at the office, I also feel exactly that - that it is He who invites us to the table, and not we have to somehow "pull" Him down. Simple, but it helps me focus.

Χρήστος Βασιλείου

Yes, that part about God's initiative in the Liturgy got me too. In our parish in Agios Nikolaos Volos, especially on Sundays when I come tired from school, I feel exactly this: He invites us to the Table, we do not pull him. Simple and powerful.

Ewa Kaczmarek

Yes, I feel exactly the same during our Liturgy - that it is He who draws us to Himself, not the other way around. After a whole day in the store, this impression really helps, otherwise you would barely faint. Which parish do you visit most often?

Maria Munteanu

Yes, Radu, I too have felt this many times at Mass, especially when I come with my head full of bills and vegetables from the garden. It is good that he reminds us that He is the One who calls us, not the other way around. Which roads do you take with your truck on Sunday mornings?

Ștefan Stan

Yes, Maria, that's right - I feel the same when I'm fishing early in the morning, I think of the fishing line and the fishing rod, and yet He calls me first. Those bills and the vegetables in the garden keep us tied to the ground, but the Liturgy lifts us a little above them. What vegetables did you plant in the garden this year?

Ioana Stoica

Yes, Stefan, that's exactly how I feel when I get to church after arranging the shelves in the store all day - I come with my mind to the bills and the grandparents waiting for the soup, but He calls me first. This year I put cherry tomatoes and kapia peppers, like last year, plus some basil next to it. What fish did you catch this morning?

Ioana Stan

Yes, Ioana, I also come from shift thinking about my son who has exams and the pots on the fire, but everything changes in the pew. This year my basil grew tall, I put it next to the cherry tree in the yard. What soup do you make for the grandparents, also with dumplings?

Mihai Nistor

Yes, Ioana, that's exactly what happens to me too – you enter the pew with the market list in your head and leave with a clear mind. My basil this year was shorter, but I put it next to the mint bushes; I make the soup for the grandparents with semolina dumplings, not potatoes, because they like it better that way. What other plant do you have in your yard besides the cherry tree?

Vasile Constantinescu

Yes, Mihai, the same thing happens to me - you go in thinking about the unloading truck and come out with a calmer mind. My basil grew a little weak this year because of the drought, but I kept it next to the mint because I like the smell of them together. How about, do you put parsley next to them too or keep it separate?

Ilie Radu

Yes, Ioana, it's exactly the same with me after the night shift - you go in thinking about the bills and the game on Sunday, and in the pew everything is different. My basil came out a little thin this year, I moved it to the garage wall. What soup do you prepare for your grandparents, also with semolina dumplings?

Ana Matei

Yes, Ilie, that's exactly what happens to me after I finish the papers at the office - those little thoughts go away and you're only left with what matters. My basil was also a little weak, but I put it by the kitchen window and now it seems more lively. I make soup for the grandparents with semolina dumplings and a little leustea from the garden, they like it very much. What else do you put in your soup?

Viorica Popa

Yes, Ilie, and for me, after a day with a stack of theses to correct, those practical thoughts dissipate in the pew. My basil grew well this year, I kept it in the shade by the back fence. I make chicken soup with semolina dumplings for my grandmothers, but I also add a little sour cream at the end, they like it better that way. What else do you put in yours?

Mihai Nistor

Yes, Ilie, and for me, after I finish the calculations at the office, those thoughts about the bills go away and I remain only with the prayer. My basil came out a bit stunted and I moved it near the bedroom window to get more sun. What time do you get home after the night shift, so that you don't get tired on the couch?