In his general audience Pope Francis stressed the importance of meditation in Christian life.
He said that it is a necessary practice for all people, and that even non-Christians dedicate time for meditation to manage stress after hectic days.
POPE FRANCIS
It is a positive phenomenon. In fact, we are not made to constantly run around. We have an inner life that we must not supress. Meditating is, therefore, a necessity for everyone. Meditating, so to speak, is like stopping to take a breath.
However, the Pope explained that Christian meditation is much more than that. It's main goal is not to relax or to find oneself, but to find Christ.
POPE FRANCIS
There are many methods of Christian meditation that can help us in following the Lord. Some of these methods emphasize the intellectual dimension of meditation, others affections and feelings. But we must not forget that the method is only a means, not a goal; the important thing is that it leads to an encounter with Jesus, and only in this way will we be able to find ourselves.
The Pope repeatedly stressed that the methods of Christian meditation are not ends in themselves, but rather a means to reaching Christ. Becoming too attached to them, he said, is like stopping to adore the road to Christ without traveling it.
In this week's audience Pope Francis complemented the message he shared last week, when he discussed the value of 'vocal prayer,' which is spoken aloud.
Javier Romero
