Pope Benedict XVI: “Vocation is Renewal
of Personal Friendship With Christ"

The Holy Father provided another day of inspiring vocation leadership to the global Catholic community in celebration of the 43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations preaching at the Vatican Basilica and the midday “Regina Coeli” by referring to the figure of Christ the Good Shepherd, who gives His life for His flock, humankind, who recognizes his sheep and in turn is recognized by them as he remains one who is at the service of unity.

The priestly spirit, said Pope Benedict, leads the ordained to a life of service to others through personal sacrifice, adding, “The only legitimate ascent towards the ministry of the shepherd is the cross. That is the door.” To be a priest, the Pope affirmed, is not “to desire to be someone important, but to live for others, for Christ, and through Him and with Him to live for the men and women He seeks, who He wants to lead along the path of life.”

“We enter the priesthood through a Sacrament,” said the Holy Father, “and this means through the total donation of self to Christ, so that He may use me as He wishes, so that I serve Him and follow His call even when this contrasts with my own desires for self-fulfillment and respect. To enter by the door, which is Christ, means knowing Him and loving Him ever more deeply, that our will may unite with His and our action become one with His action.”

He also underlined the importance of “a practical and concrete knowledge of the people entrusted to us…..the pastor cannot be content with remembering names and dates, his knowledge must also be a knowledge of the heart.” Benedict XVI concluded his remarks at the Basilica by emphasizing how priests “must concern themselves with everyone,” especially “those who believe and live with the Church,” but also with “bringing God’s invitation to His banquet to those men and women who have still not heard of it.”

Later that same day at the “Regina Coeli” the Holy Father reminded the pilgrims gathered that Christian vocations “is the renewal of the personal friendship with Jesus Christ, which gives full meaning to one’s existence and makes it receptive to the Kingdom of God. The Church lives off this friendship, nourished by the Word and by the Sacraments, holy truths especially entrusted to the ministry of bishops, priest, and deacons consecrated by the Sacrament of Holy Orders.”

“For this reason,” the Pope added, “the priest’s mission is irreplaceable; and although in some areas there is a lack of clergy, it must not be doubted that God continues to call men to leave everything and dedicate themselves to preaching the Gospel and to pastoral ministry.”

John Mark Willcox
Director of Vocations

(June 2006 issue of the Catholic Connection)