Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “The celebration of the next World Day of Prayer for Vocations gives me an opportunity to encourage the People of God to reflect on the theme of Vocations in the mystery of the Church” the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI writes in his message for the 43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations on 7 May, 4th Sunday of Easter. “Before the creation of the world, before we came into existence the heavenly Father chose each of us personally and called us to enter into filial relationship with Him through Jesus, His incarnate Word, guided by the Holy Spirit” the Pope continued underlining that “the weight of two millennia of history make it difficult to perceive the novelty of the wondrous mystery of divine adoption which is at the centre of the teaching of St Paul”.
We certainly need not be perfect to respond to God’s call: “human fragility and limits are not an obstacle on the condition that they help to render us ever more aware of the fact that we have need of Christ’s redeeming grace … In the mystery of the Church, the mystical Body of Christ, the divine power of love changes the human heart enabling it to communicate God’s love to others”. Down through the centuries many have consecrated their lives to the cause of the Kingdom: many have let themselves be won by Christ, others were personally chosen by Him, still others followed him of their own initiative. “These men and women… represent the multiplicity of vocations always present in the Church. A model of those called to bear special witness to love of God is Mary, the Mother of Jesus.”
The message continues affirming that “the Church is holy even though her members need to be purified so that holiness, a gift of God, may shine in them in all its splendour”. Considering the universal call to holiness highlighted by the Second Vatican Council, the Holy Father says “Christ the High Priest in his concern for the Church calls individuals to care for his people in every generation; in particular he calls to the priestly ministry men who exercise a paternal function which has its source in the paternity of God”. Pope Benedict XVI underlines that “the mission of the priest in the Church is irreplaceable” and not even the scarcity of clergy registered in some parts of the world, can undermine the certainty that Christ continues to call men willing to be “totally dedicated to celebrating the sacred mysteries, to preaching the Gospel and to the pastoral ministry”.
Another special vocation is the call to consecrated life. “Following the example of Mary of Bethany who "sat at the feet of Jesus listening to his word" (Lk 10, 39), many men and women consecrate themselves to total and exclusive following of Christ”. While involved in various different services in human formation, caring for the poor, teaching, assisting the sick, they always consider as their first and special duty “contemplation of divine truth and constant union with God in prayer " (CJC can. 663, § 1)”.
The Holy Father concludes his message recording the words of Jesus - "The harvest is plenty but the workers are few! Pray therefore that the master of the harvest will send workers for his harvest!" (Mt 9,37) - and urging Catholics to pray for vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life the Pope says: “It is not surprising that where there is fervent prayer vocations flourish. The holiness of the Church depends essentially on union with Christ and openness to the mystery of grace working in the hearts of believers. This is why I invite the faithful to strive for an ever deeper relationship with Christ, Master and Shepherd of his people, imitating Mary who kept the divine mysteries in her heart meditating them unceasingly (cfr Lk 2,19)”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 31/3/2006 righe 42, parole 623)
