Wisdom from Francis Cardinal Arinze

Prayer is a necessary part of the evangelizing activity of the Church. Effective witness to Christ is not an exercise to be achieved by mere human effort. Jesus has taught us about our dependence on him: ‘As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing’ (Jn 15:4–5). The teaching of the Lord Jesus could not be clearer.

—FRANCIS CARDINAL ARINZE from The Evangelizing Parish