Indeed, St. Paul reminds us: we can and should pray constantly (1 Thes. 5:17). Far from turning in on ourselves or withdrawing from the ups and downs of life, prayer turns us towards God and through him to each other, including the marginalized and those following ways other than God’s path.

There is another aspect of prayer which we need to remember: silent contemplation…. Have we perhaps lost something of the art of listening? Do you leave space to hear God’s whisper calling you forth into goodness?

Friends, do not be afraid of silence of stillness. Listen to God; adore him in the Eucharist. Let his word shape your journey as an unfolding of holiness.

In liturgy we find the whole Church at prayer. The word "liturgy" means the participation of God’s people in "the work of Christ the Priest and of his Body which is the Church." (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7)

What is that work? First of all it refers to Christ’s Passion, his Death and Resurrection and his Ascension—what we call the Paschal Mystery.

It also refers to the celebration of the liturgy itself…. Through the liturgy, the "work of Jesus" is continually brought into contact with history and with our lives in order to shape them.

Here we catch another grandeur of our Catholic Faith. Whenever you gather for Mass, when you go to Confession, whenever you celebrate any of the sacraments, Jesus is at work.

Through the Holy Spirit, he draws you to himself, into his sacrificial love of the Father which becomes love for all.

We see then that the Church’s liturgy is a ministry of hope for humanity. Your faithful participation is an active hope which helps to keep the world—saints and sinners alike—open to God. This is the truly human hope we offer everyone.

Your personal prayer, your times of silent contemplation, and your participation in the Church’s liturgy bring you close to God and also prepare you to serve others. For the life of faith and hope is also a life of charity.

Contemplating Jesus on the Cross we see love in its most radical form. We can begin to imagine the path of love along which we must move.

The opportunities to make this journey are abundant. Look about you with Christ’s eyes, listen with his ears, feel and think with his heart and mind. Are you ready to give all as he did for truth and justice?

New injustices have arisen. Some are complex and stem from the exploitation of the heart and manipulation of the mind. Even our common habitat, the earth itself, groans under the weight of consumerism, greed, and irresponsible exploitation.

We must listen deeply. We must respond with a renewed social action that stems from the universal love that knows no bounds. In this way, we ensure that our works of mercy and justice become hope in action for others.