VOCATION AND MISSION ARE INSEPARABLE
VATICAN CITY, 13 APR 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square to pray the Regina Coeli with thousands of pilgrims gathered there.
Today, the Pope told the faithful, marks the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. "On all continents", he said, "ecclesial communities ask the Lord for numerous and holy vocations to the priesthood, to consecrated life and the mission, and to Christian marriage, as they meditate upon the theme: 'Vocations at the service of the Church-mission'".
This year the World Day comes amid preparations for the 'Pauline Year', due to begin on 28 June, to celebrate the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of the Apostle Paul, "missionary par excellence", said the Holy Father.
For the Apostle of the Gentiles, "vocation and missionary were inseparable. Thus he represents a model for all Christians, and especially for missionaries 'ad vitam', in other words for the men and women who dedicate themselves entirely to announcing Christ to those people who still do not know Him".
"This missionary service is carried out in the first place by priests, who dispense the Word of God and the Sacraments and, through their pastoral charity, show everyone, especially the sick, the weak and the poor, the healing presence of Christ, ... sometimes confirming their faithfulness to Christ with the sacrifice of their lives". In this context, Pope Benedict recalled two religious killed recently in Guinea and in Kenya.
"Let us pray", he went on, "for constant increase in the ranks of those who decide to live the Gospel radically through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. They are men and women who have a prime role in evangelisation, united by a single goal: that of testifying to God's primacy over all, and spreading His Kingdom in all areas of society".
In closing, the Holy Father highlighted how "Christian matrimony is also a missionary vocation. Husband and wife are called to live the Gospel in the family, in the workplace, and in parish and civic communities", and they too "offer their valuable contribution to the mission 'ad gentes'".
ANG/PRAYER VOCATIONS/... VIS 080414 (370)
POPE CALLS FOR PRAYERS FOR SUCCESS OF HIS U.S. TRIP
VATICAN CITY, 13 APR 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, following the Regina Coeli prayer, Benedict XVI reminded the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square that on Tuesday 15 April he will travel to the U.S.A. where he will visit Washington, New York and the headquarters of the United Nations.
"With the various groups I shall meet", he said in English, "my intention is to share our Lord's word of life. In Christ is our hope! Christ is the foundation of our hope for peace, for justice, and for the freedom that flows from God's law fulfilled in His commandment to love one another".
The Pope also asked people to pray for the success of the visit, "so that it may be a time of spiritual renewal for all Americans".
ANG/UNITED STATES TRIP/... VIS 080414 (150
New Post on Pauline Laity Blog:
http://cooperators.daughtersofstpaul.com/
Sent to me by Sr Margaret Kerry, fsp, of Boston, MA
Director of the Association of Pauline Cooperators in the United States/Toronto
Check our Veritas' wonderful post on Year of Vocation.
VATICAN CITY, 13 APR 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square to pray the Regina Coeli with thousands of pilgrims gathered there.
Today, the Pope told the faithful, marks the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. "On all continents", he said, "ecclesial communities ask the Lord for numerous and holy vocations to the priesthood, to consecrated life and the mission, and to Christian marriage, as they meditate upon the theme: 'Vocations at the service of the Church-mission'".
This year the World Day comes amid preparations for the 'Pauline Year', due to begin on 28 June, to celebrate the two thousandth anniversary of the birth of the Apostle Paul, "missionary par excellence", said the Holy Father.
For the Apostle of the Gentiles, "vocation and missionary were inseparable. Thus he represents a model for all Christians, and especially for missionaries 'ad vitam', in other words for the men and women who dedicate themselves entirely to announcing Christ to those people who still do not know Him".
"This missionary service is carried out in the first place by priests, who dispense the Word of God and the Sacraments and, through their pastoral charity, show everyone, especially the sick, the weak and the poor, the healing presence of Christ, ... sometimes confirming their faithfulness to Christ with the sacrifice of their lives". In this context, Pope Benedict recalled two religious killed recently in Guinea and in Kenya.
"Let us pray", he went on, "for constant increase in the ranks of those who decide to live the Gospel radically through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. They are men and women who have a prime role in evangelisation, united by a single goal: that of testifying to God's primacy over all, and spreading His Kingdom in all areas of society".
In closing, the Holy Father highlighted how "Christian matrimony is also a missionary vocation. Husband and wife are called to live the Gospel in the family, in the workplace, and in parish and civic communities", and they too "offer their valuable contribution to the mission 'ad gentes'".
ANG/PRAYER VOCATIONS/... VIS 080414 (370)
POPE CALLS FOR PRAYERS FOR SUCCESS OF HIS U.S. TRIP
VATICAN CITY, 13 APR 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, following the Regina Coeli prayer, Benedict XVI reminded the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square that on Tuesday 15 April he will travel to the U.S.A. where he will visit Washington, New York and the headquarters of the United Nations.
"With the various groups I shall meet", he said in English, "my intention is to share our Lord's word of life. In Christ is our hope! Christ is the foundation of our hope for peace, for justice, and for the freedom that flows from God's law fulfilled in His commandment to love one another".
The Pope also asked people to pray for the success of the visit, "so that it may be a time of spiritual renewal for all Americans".
ANG/UNITED STATES TRIP/... VIS 080414 (150
New Post on Pauline Laity Blog:
http://cooperators.daughtersofstpaul.com/
Sent to me by Sr Margaret Kerry, fsp, of Boston, MA
Director of the Association of Pauline Cooperators in the United States/Toronto
Check our Veritas' wonderful post on Year of Vocation.
4 comments:
Thanks for the link, Easter. I've aded this blog to my site and whenever I've done a little research I'll get back to you regarding prayer groups for priest here in Ireland.
Over at Vultus Christi, Fr. Mark Kirby has a post which I know you will find very interesting - about an upcoming day in May!
He is inviting readers to let him know what their parish is doing...you and I probably 'meet up' on that post's comment box at some stage in the near future! God bless, Easter, and thanks for all your prayers.
Wow! Ann, this is exciting.
Thank you for all your encouragement. Esther and I are very close to finishing the list of spiritual mothers to match our priests. It's a little rough these days for us, but God in us is keeping us focused and strong, yet gentle. I very much desire to learn new ways of keeping our ministry vibrant and steady.
I look forward to your email on that re: Fr. Mark Kirby.
Thank you, too!
Love,
Easter:-)
Easter, This is the link I as referring to:
http://vultus.stblogs.org/2008/04/2008_world_day_of_prayer_for_p.html
Hopefully you and your readers will find much of interest there.
Ann,
Thank you! Today is a very hectic day for me. I have to take my m-i-l to 2 appointments. I am happy to share with you that I am blessed to have a wonderful, loving and generous mother-in-law. I love her very much. She is my focus today. :-)
Anyway, I will check that site tonight. My family and I are all members of the Pauline Family, but today is a busy day for the sisters so we don't meet.
Thank you for the info and for taking the time to leave a message here.
Love,
Easter:-)
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