ANGELUS: PRAYER HELPS TO CONFRONT PROBLEMS OF DAILY LIFE

VATICAN CITY, SEP 8, 2002 (VIS) - Today at noon the Holy Father prayed the Angelus with the faithful present in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo.

Before the Marian prayer, John Paul II spoke about the efficacy of and the need for prayer. "Unfortunately," he said, "we frequently witness dramatic events which spread uncertainty and anxiety in public opinion. Modern man seems to live sure of himself, however, especially on crucial occasions, he feels powerless: he experiences the incapability to intervene, and as a consequence, he lives in uncertainty and fear."

"The secret to confronting personal and social problems, not only in emergencies but day after day, is found in prayer carried out with faith. He who prays will not get discouraged not even in the face of the most serious difficulties, because he feels God's proximity and he finds refuge, serenity and peace in his fatherly arms. Opening up to God with confidence, one opens up to his neighbor with greater generosity. He is capable of constructing history according to the divine plan."

The Pope underlined that "it is very important to pray every day, personally and with the family. May praying and praying together be the daily breath of families, parishes and all communities."

When greeting pilgrims after the Angelus, John Paul II urged them to ask God and the Virgin Mary for justice and peace in the world.

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