World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It means thanking the Lord for so many men and women who dedicate their lives to the service of the Gospel, and praying that committed "yeses" may continue to exist.

Pope Leo XIV, in his message for this day, draws attention to "The inner discovery of God's gift." He focuses on four dimensions: the path of beauty, mutual knowledge, trust, and maturity. Here are some statements to help discover, understand, or live one's vocation:

“Only those who stop, listen, pray, and welcome His gaze can say with confidence: “I believe in Him, with Him life can be truly beautiful, I want to walk the path of this beauty.” And the most extraordinary thing is that, by becoming His disciples, we also become “beautiful”: His beauty transfigures us.”

“Every vocation can only begin from the awareness and experience of a God who is Love (cf. 1 John 4:16): He knows us deeply, He has counted the hairs on our heads (cf. Matthew 10:30) and for each one He has devised a unique path of holiness and service. However, this knowledge must always be reciprocal: we are invited to know God through prayer, listening to the Word, the Sacraments, the life of the Church and giving ourselves to our brothers and sisters.”

“From knowledge comes trust, an attitude that is a child of faith, essential both for embracing one's vocation and for persevering in it. Life, in effect, reveals itself as a continuous trusting and surrendering to the Lord, even when His plans disrupt our own.”

“Vocation, in truth, is not a static goal, but a dynamic process of maturation, favored by intimacy with the Lord: being with Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to act in hearts and in life's situations, and rereading everything in the light of the gift received means growing in vocation.”

 “It is rather a path that unfolds in a way analogous to human life, in which the gift received, besides being guarded, must be nourished by a daily relationship with God in order to grow and bear fruit. 'This has great value because it places our whole life before God who loves us, allowing us to understand that nothing is the fruit of meaningless chaos, but, on the contrary, everything can be inserted into a path of response to the Lord, who has a stupendous plan for us.'« 

The source of vocation is in Jesus Christ. Vocation is a project of love and happiness. St. Gaspar del Bufalo, St. Maria de Matia, Blessed John Merlini, and other figures of the Church are examples of following Jesus closely. Today, thank God for the gift of vocation of the CPPS Fathers: Paulino, José Maria Borreguero, Juan Eugénio, António Conde, Luis Manuel, Virgílio, Eduardo, Lima, Florentino, António Panea, Luís Filipe, Andoni, José Maria Parejo, Adelino… and for so many others who preceded them!

Have you ever thought that God is calling you? Do you have a vocation? Answer… YES