The Art of Prayer

At the end of the Great Jubilee in A.D. 2000, Pope John Paul II issued the apostolic letter NOVO MILLENNIO INEUNTE "so that the Church may shine ever more brightly in the variety of her gifts and in her unity as she journeys on."   In general, the letter encourages "each local Church to assess its fervour and find fresh enthusiasm for its spiritual and pastoral responsibilities."  In particular, it urges Christian communities to learn the art of prayer.

In the letter, the pope first mentions the people who have been recognized as living holy lives and then challenges every Christian:

The time has come to re-propose wholeheartedly to everyone this high standard of ordinary Christian living: the whole life of the Christian community and of Christian families must lead in this direction. It is also clear however that the paths to holiness are personal and call for a genuine "training in holiness", adapted to people's needs. ... This training in holiness calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer.

He calls on Christian communities (such as parishes) to pray and to act:

our Christian communities must become genuine "schools" of prayer, where the meeting with Christ is expressed not just in imploring help but also in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, contemplation, listening and ardent devotion, until the heart truly "falls in love". Intense prayer, yes, but it does not distract us from our commitment to history: by opening our heart to the love of God it also opens it to the love of our brothers and sisters, and makes us capable of shaping history according to God's plan.