MESSAGE FOR WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

VATICAN CITY, NOV 24, 2001 (VIS) - Made public today was the Holy Father's Message for the 39th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which will be celebrated on April 21, 2002, the fourth Sunday of Easter, on the theme "The vocation to holiness." This annual Message was published in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Portuguese. Below we offer extracts from the text:

"The main task of the Church is to lead Christians along the path of holiness, so that, illuminated by the intelligence of faith, they may learn to know and contemplate Christ's face and to rediscover in Him their own authentic identity and the mission that the Lord entrusts to each of them."

"Since the Christian Community is the place where all the various vocations raised up by the Lord express themselves, in the context of the World Day of Prayer ... the Third Continental Congress for vocations to ordained ministry and to consecrated life in North America will be held."

"Every vocation in the Church is at the service of holiness. Some however, such as the vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life, are at the service of holiness in a thoroughly unique manner. It is to these vocations that I invite everyone to pay particular attention today, by intensifying their prayers for them."

"The small number of candidates to the priesthood and consecrated life reported in some situations today, must not lead us to expect less and settle for a mediocre formation and spirituality. Rather, it should urge greater attention to the selection and the formation of those who, once constituted ministers and witnesses of Christ, will be called upon to confirm with holiness of life, what they announce and celebrate.

"It is necessary to adopt all means to ensure that vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, essential for the life and holiness of God's People, are continuously at the center of spirituality, of pastoral action and of the prayer of the faithful.

"May Bishops and priests be, first of all, witnesses to the holiness of the ministry they have received as gift. ... May consecrated men and women ... show that their existence is firmly rooted in Christ. ... Let us not forget that the strength of every vocation lies in the love for contemplation, in the joy of serving others, in chastity lived for the Kingdom of Heaven and in the generous devotion to one's own ministry!

"Families are called to play a decisive role for the future of vocations in the Church. The holiness of marital love, the harmony of family life, the spirit of faith with which the problems of daily life are confronted, openness towards others, especially towards the poorest, and participation in the life of the Christian community form the proper environment for their children to listen to the divine call and make a generous response."

"May the Lord of the harvest provide many holy priestly and religious vocations for His Church! Holy Father, look upon this humanity of ours, that is taking its first steps along the path of the Third Millennium. Its life is still deeply marked by hatred, violence and oppression, but the thirst for justice, truth and grace still finds a space in the hearts of many people, who are waiting for someone to bring salvation, enacted by You through Your Son Jesus."

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