Nuncio to youth: Make prayer a habit

Papal nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown encouraged young Filipinos to form the habit of prayer to learn to accept God’s will.

Speaking to a group of young people from the Diocese of Virac on Aug. 28, he said that prayer is important because it is essential to getting in touch with God.

“When we do this thing, the line of communication between us and God becomes much clearer,” Brown said at the Virac Cathedral.

He said most people realize that prayer is essential, but they often struggle to make it a priority because of the demands of daily life and “a lot of interference”.

“We don’t hear Him so well so it’s important to pray. It’s important to have a habit of prayer,” Brown said.

“It doesn’t really matter what your habit of prayer is as long as you have a habit. So whatever it is, make sure you have a habit of prayer and keep to it… even if it’s difficult, keep to it,” he said.

The nuncio also acknowledged the challenges young people face today. In the roughest moments, he reminded them that “God will not abandon us”.

“When something happens in your life that is difficult or painful, and that happens to all of us at different times, don’t think that God has abandoned you,” he said.

“God loves you and even in those difficult things you had to face don’t think that God has abandoned you because he hasn’t. He is with you,” Brown added.

The nuncio was in Virac for the blessing and dedication of the newly-renovated cathedral held on Aug. 27.

The following day, he also led the blessing and turnover of housing units constructed for the poor in Catanduanes province’s San Andres town.

The “Resilient Shelter for the Vulnerable Project” project was constructed through Caritas Philippines and Caritas Virac. (CBCP News)

A version of this article was first published on CBCP News.