“In contexts dominated by an efficiency-driven and consumerist mindset, prayer may seem pointless and trivial,” he said. The Pope did not name the contrast explicitly — he did not say “mindfulness” or “meditation” — but the target was clear. Prayer, in the Catholic understanding, is not a technique for achieving a desired psychological state. The moment prayer becomes a tool for personal optimization, it has ceased to be prayer in any meaningful sense. The Liturgy of the Hours is not a series of psychological exercises designed to produce calm.