Week of Prayer for Vocations

REFLECTION ON POPE FRANCIS' MESSAGE FOR THE 2021 WORLD DAY OF VOCATIONS 

God does not like to reveal Himself in a spectacular way, pressuring our freedom. He conveys His plans to us with gentleness. He does not overwhelm us with dazzling visions, but quietly speaks in the depths of our heart. 

Do you hear His voice? What does He tell you?

Joseph made no news in his own time, yet has inspired the daily lives of countless fathers, labourers and Christians ever since. For a vocation – like life itself – matures only through daily fidelity.

Do you live your daily duties faithfully?

The first words that Saint Joseph heard in a dream were an invitation not to be afraid, because God remains ever faithful to His promises: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid” (Mt 1:20). Do not be afraid: these words the Lord also addresses to you, dear sister, and to you, dear brother, whenever you feel that, even amid uncertainty and hesitation, you can no longer delay your desire to give your life to Him.

What are you afraid of? What does prevent you from saying definitely "yes" to Him?

After each dream, Joseph had to change his plans and take a risk, sacrificing his own plans in order to follow the mysterious designs of God, whom he trusted completely.

Do you trust God? Does He change your plans?

God’s call always urges us to take a first step, to give ourselves, to press forward. Only by abandoning ourselves confidently to grace, setting aside our own programmes and comforts, we can truly say “yes” to God.

Would you like to completely dedicate your life to God?

This everyday fidelity is the secret of joy. I pray that you will experience this same joy, dear brothers and sisters who have generously made God the dream of your lives.

Where do you discover your joy? 

Love gives meaning to life, because it reveals life’s mystery. Indeed, we only have life if we give it; we truly possess it only if we generously give it away.

What is the meaning of your life?


A PRAYER OF POPE FRANCIS FOR NEW VOCATIONS

Mary Most Holy, the Mother of our Savior, had the courage to embrace this ideal, placing her youth and her enthusiasm in God’s hands. Through her intercession, may we be granted that same openness of heart, that same readiness to respond, “Here I am”, to the Lord’s call, and that same joy in setting out (cf. Lk 1:39), like her, to proclaim him to the whole world.
We ask the Lord to grant to all those who are on a vocational journey a deep sense of belonging to the Church; and that the Holy Spirit may strengthen among Pastors, and all of the faithful, a deeper sense of communion, discernment and spiritual fatherhood and motherhood.

Father of Mercy, who gave your Son for our salvation and who strengthens us always with the gifts of your Spirit, grant us Christian communities which are alive, fervent and joyous, which are fonts of fraternal life, and which nurture in the young the desire to consecrate themselves to you and to the work of evangelization. Sustain these communities in their commitment to offer appropriate vocational catechesis and ways of proceeding towards each one’s particular consecration.

Grant the wisdom needed for vocational discernment, so that in all things the greatness of your merciful love may shine forth. May Mary, Mother and guide of Jesus, intercede for each Christian community, so that, made fruitful by the Holy Spirit, it may be a source of true vocations for the service of the holy People of God. Amen.