Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Pope Francis has officially opened the Year of Prayer, a year dedicated to rediscovering the value and importance of prayer in personal life, the life of the church, and the world. This special year was called for by the Pope to prepare Catholics worldwide for the upcoming Holy Year, which will begin with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica in December 2025. However, the preparation for the jubilee is not just about construction projects, but also about renewing spiritual pathways and practices.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization's section for new evangelization, emphasized the need for spiritual renewal in the Year of Prayer. He stated that this year is about preparing the groundwork for the jubilee to spiritually enrich the life of the church and the entire people of God. The Archbishop unveiled several resources that the dicastery is providing to help individuals, communities, and religious groups rediscover the value and necessity of daily prayer.

Unlike previous years designated by the Pope, the Year of Prayer is not marked by particular initiatives. Instead, it is a time to focus on the basics of prayer and educate people on its effectiveness and fruitfulness. The aim is to support every planned initiative with prayer as its foundation.

The Year of Prayer in 2024 aligns well with the U.S. bishops' National Eucharistic Revival, which emphasizes the importance of the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life. Msgr. Graham Bell of the dicastery's section for new evangelization expressed his approval of the initiative, stating that it is very appropriate in view of the upcoming jubilee.

To aid in the Year of Prayer, the dicastery will release an eight-volume series of booklets titled "Notes on Prayer." These booklets, written by authors of international renown, delve into various dimensions of the Christian act of praying. The first volume, titled "Praying Today. A Challenge to Be Overcome," written by Cardinal Angelo Comastri, was released on January 23. The subsequent volumes will cover topics such as praying with the Psalms, the prayer of Jesus, praying with saints and sinners, and the prayer Jesus taught us, the 'Our Father.' These resources will be made available to bishops' conferences worldwide.

Additionally, the dicastery will provide digital texts and guides for dioceses to integrate, modify, and distribute as they see fit. These resources will cover various aspects of a Christian's prayer life, including spiritual retreats, shrines, and the priesthood. Furthermore, Pope Francis will establish a "school of prayer" for 2024, similar to his "Fridays of Mercy" initiative during the Jubilee of Mercy in 2016. This school will involve moments of encounter with specific groups of people to pray together and explore different forms of prayer.

According to Archbishop Fisichella, there is a profound need for spirituality, and the Year of Prayer aims to provide a spiritual oasis from the daily stresses of life. He describes it as a shelter where prayer becomes nourishment for the Christian life of faith, hope, and charity.

In conclusion, the Year of Prayer is an essential rest stop on the journey to the jubilee. It is a time for Catholics to rediscover the value and necessity of prayer in their personal lives, the life of the church, and the world. Through various resources and initiatives, individuals and communities will have the opportunity to deepen their prayer life and foster a closer relationship with the Lord.