POPE Francis has been stressing the importance of prayer in the life of the Catholic faithful. In his state and pastoral visit to the Philippines last month, he never failed to remind the Filipinos of its significance. “If we do not pray, we will not know the most important thing of all: God’s will for us. And for all our activity, our busy-ness, without prayer we will accomplish very little. Resting in prayer is especially important for families,” the pope said at his meeting with families at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on January 16.
It is this value of prayer in the life of each Catholic that the Congress on Prayer will be held on March 15, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. It will be led by the National Commission for the Celebration of the Fifth Birth Centenary of Saint Teresa of àvila.
Admission is free, although participants have to secure their tickets beforehand but participants have to secure their tickets beforehand. Forms may be downloaded from www.teresa500philippines.com and submit through e-mail teresa500philippines@gmail.com.
Aptly titled “Prayer, a Dialogue of Love,” the Congress on Prayer is part of the celebration of the 500 birth anniversary of Saint Teresa of àvila on March 28. It is important to note that 2015 also marks the 50th year of the Vatican Council II.
The congress aims “to herald prayer as an experience of friendship and a deepening encounter with Christ.”
As Saint Teresa, a teacher of prayer and the first woman Doctor of the Church, said in her book Way of Perfection, through prayer one is given the opportunity to “speak with Him as with a father, or a brother, or a lord, or as with a spouse; sometimes in one way, at other times in another; He will teach you what you must do.”
In The Book of Her Life Saint Teresa, also known as Teresa of Jesus, said prayer is “nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”
“The paths to holiness which is the foundation where all pastoral initiatives must be set are personal and a call for a genuine ‘training in holiness’ adapted to people’s needs. This training calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer,” the National Commission said. This first-of-its-kind congress will be attended by the Order of Discalced Carmelites, or OCD, friars, nuns and seculars, the Carmelite family, other religious orders, priests and seminarians, professionals and college students, lay associations, parish-mandated organizations, parish pastoral council and commissioned ministers, and transparochial communities.
The Congress on Prayer will include liturgical and contemplative prayers through the Liturgy of the Hours, chants, silent prayer and presentations on prayer. It will be capped by a Eucharistic celebration.
His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle will preside over the Holy Mass. His Very Rev. Reynaldo Sotelo, OCD, commissar, Order of Discalced Carmelites Philippines-Vietnam Circumscription, will give the welcome remarks.
Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara, DD, will give a presentation on “Prayer of Jesus, Prayer of the Church;” Imelda D. Ramos, OCDS, president, Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines, on “Spiritual Life: The Point of Attraction;” Fr. Mariano Agruda III, OCD, Prior, Our Lady’s Hill Center for Spirituality, on “Spiritual Life: When the Word of My Friend Prevails;” and Sis. May Catherine Salvatierra, OCD, president, Association of Discalced Carmelite Nuns in the Philippines, on “On the Tracks of St. Teresa: Her Way, Our Way.”
Fr. Danilo D. Lim, OCD, chairman of the National Commission, will give the closing remarks.