"This is the Church's mission, yesterday, today and for ever: to proclaim and witness to Christ so that the human being, every human being, may totally fulfill his or her vocation."
These words of our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI speak of the mystery of every vocation with a very direct focus, one which is well suited for our attention during this National Vocations Awareness Week.
That focus is the inter-relation of each person's vocation within the mission of the Church. This week, which is set aside especially to foster concentrated prayer to the Lord of the Harvest for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life, began on January 8, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The vocation and mission of St. John the Baptist is highlighted with this feast because in baptizing the Lord Jesus, John is proclaiming and witnessing to Christ. This feast celebrates the presence of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit who testify to Christ and His mission to make known the merciful love of God through His life, death and resurrection.
The Baptist's faithfulness to his vocation had a direct participation in the mission of the Savior. The same is true of each Christian. As members of His Body the Church, each person has a unique share in Christ's saving mission. And each person's vocation is the means through which God wills that participation. Faithfulness to His call not only fulfills each person, but also assists in bringing about the salvation of others.
The Lord gave us only one directive regarding vocations and that was to pray, or in some translations, to beg for them. It is each Catholic Christian's responsibility to listen to these words of the Master, take them to heart and then to do as He asks. Praying for vocations is not an "option." It is an essential aspect of being a faithful disciple of Christ.
Prayer for holy vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life can be offered in countless ways and from many perspectives. Families can pray that each of their children will know and be faithful to their unique vocation in Christ. Parish Masses and rosaries for vocations can be offered and Holy Hours spent before the Eucharistic Lord of the Harvest. Catholic educators can make a point of teaching their students the significance and beauty of every vocation in Christ and to esteem in a unique way the vocations of priesthood and consecrated life so that the youth will recognize and be more open to those callings. Youth ministers can give their attention to fostering vocations among those whom they serve. Through prayer and inviting them to consider the possibility of being chosen to follow the Lord more closely as a priest or religious, many could be encouraged in their response to Him.
Prayer should be offered not only that the Lord choose from among us more priests and consecrated religious, but also in particular for those He has already called. Our prayers for them will encourage their hope in His promise to be with them always in their vocation discernment, and to grow in generous love of God and neighbor which inspires their complete gift of self in answer to His call.
Every person has a role to play in salvation history. If you read sacred Scripture from the vantage point of vocation, you will see one vocation story after another unfold to the glory of God and for the salvation of souls.
Perhaps you are reading it here first, but it is often said, and I firmly believe, that there is no "vocations crisis" in the Church but there is a "response crisis." I therefore ask what you personally are doing about it. We all have a role to play here. If we, individually, are not praying for vocations to the priesthood or consecrated life we are not part of the solution and we are not fully embracing our Lord's command to beg the Lord of the Harvest. Young men and women, your fellow parishioners, your sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, all need your personal prayers to discover their vocation invitations from the Lord. The seminarians and woman and men from your diocese in religious formation need your prayers to persevere in their ongoing discernment.
All who are now considering or will consider a religious vocation need our prayers so that when prompted with the thought of being given the unique opportunity to be an instrument of God's grace for the salvation of countless souls, they will indeed embrace it with confident and generous hearts.
Priesthood and the consecrated life: for God's sake, and for the sake of others, we pray that many from among our midst will think about it, pray about it, then "do…whatever He tells you" (John 2:5).
