Apostleship of Prayer

In our Mission Intention this month we are praying for the future priests in mission countries, that they may be formed to evangelize their nations and indeed the entire world. Such formation means that each seminarian will grow in an intimate relationship with God. Out of prayer and holiness arise the desire to evangelize, to share the Gospel of God’s love with others. As we pray for this, we reflect once more on Pope Benedict’s Message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations which was celebrated yesterday.

In the beginning, and thereafter, what “impels” the Apostles (2 Corinthians 5: 14) is always “the love of Christ”. Innumerable missionaries, throughout the centuries, as faithful servants of the Church, docile to the action of the Holy Spirit, have followed in the footsteps of the first disciples. The Second Vatican Council notes: “Although every disciple of Christ, as far in him lies, has the duty of spreading the faith, Christ the Lord always calls whomever he will from among the number of his disciples, to be with him and to be sent by him to preach to the nations [Mark 3: 13-15]” (Decree Ad Gentes #23). In fact, the love of Christ must be communicated to the brothers by example and words, with all one’s life. My venerable predecessor John Paul II wrote: “The special vocation of missionaries ‘for life’ retains all its validity: it is the model of the Church’s missionary commitment, which always stands in need of radical and total self-giving, of new and bold endeavors”. (Encyclical Redemptoris Missio #66)Among those totally dedicated to the service of the Gospel, are priests, called to preach the word of God, administer the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, committed to helping the lowly, the sick, the suffering, the poor, and those who experience hardship in areas of the world where there are, at times, many who still have not had a real encounter with Jesus Christ. Missionaries announce for the first time to these people Christ’s redemptive love. Statistics show that the number of baptized persons increases every year thanks to the pastoral work of these priests, who are wholly consecrated to the salvation of their brothers and sisters. … Let us thank God for all the priests who have suffered even to the sacrifice of their lives in order to serve Christ … Theirs is a moving witness that can inspire many young people to follow Christ and to expend their lives for others, and thus to discover true life” (Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis #26).

Today’s Readings: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 42:2-3, 43:3-4; John 10:11-18

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations and the theme Pope Benedict has chosen for it is “Vocations at the Service of the Church on Mission.” As we pray for religious and priestly vocations today, let us also remember our monthly Mission Intention that the future priests of mission lands may be formed to evangelize their nations and the entire world. Our reflection is from Pope Benedict’s Message for today.

The Risen Jesus gave to the Apostles this command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), assuring them: “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matthew 28: 20). The Church is missionary in herself and in each one of her members. Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, every Christian is called to bear witness and to announce the Gospel, but this missionary dimension is associated in a special and intimate way with the priestly vocation. … Jesus already in his public life, while preaching in Galilee, chose some disciples to be his close collaborators in the messianic ministry. … He was moved to compassion for the people, because while visiting cities and villages, he found the crowds weary and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9: 36). From this gaze of love came the invitation to his disciples: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matthew 9: 38), and he sent the Twelve initially “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” with precise instructions.

If we pause to meditate on this passage of Matthew’s Gospel, commonly called the “missionary discourse”, we may take note of those aspects which distinguish the missionary activity of a Christian community, eager to remain faithful to the example and teaching of Jesus. To respond to the Lord’s call means facing in prudence and simplicity every danger and even persecutions, since “a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master” (Matthew 10: 24). Having become one with their Master, the disciples are no longer alone as they announce the Kingdom of heaven; Jesus himself is acting in them: “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives him who sent me” (Matthew 10: 40). Furthermore, as true witnesses, “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24: 49), they preach “repentance and the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24: 47) to all peoples.

Todays Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 23:1-6; 1 Peter 2:20b-25; John 10:1-10

Pope Benedict’s last encyclical letter to us was about Hope. Clearly he feels that in the dark and often hopeless times in which we live, we desperately need this virtue. His General Intention for April is another expression of this as he asks us to join him in praying that Christians may not tire of proclaiming with their lives that Christ’s resurrection is the source of hope and peace. Let us pray with Pope Benedict and a great contemporary witness to hope, Archbishop Michael Sabbah of Jerusalem, by reflecting on the Archbishop’s Easter Sunday homily.

Brothers and Sisters, Christ is risen. Yes, right here, this tomb that we venerate witnessed the events that have been transmitted to us by our faith. Here, the empty tomb, in front of which we celebrate Easter this morning, testifies to our faith. It testifies to God’s love for all of humanity. With the entire Church, we renew our faith and we proclaim that Christ rose here. Yes, He is truly risen. We pray in this Eucharist for Christians, for Muslims, and for Jews, for all religions and for our two peoples, Palestinian and Israeli. We pray so that the hope of the Resurrection might revive and renew the hearts of all, and fill them with the mystery of God and of his love. …

Look up to heaven, contemplate Christ who died and resurrected, in order to learn how to die and resurrect each day and each moment and in order to give new hope to this land. Chosen people, your vocation is the same one that Jesus had: to give new life to the world, but first of all to yourselves…. We are witnesses of the Resurrection, said Saint Peter to the crowd after Pentecost. Like him, here, in this very place, we are witnesses of the Resurrection, in order to give new hope and to maintain this hope in everyone, despite all the evil of the people who destroy this land. Let us pray, my brothers and sisters, so that the Resurrection of the Lord will enable all of us to give new life to our land and to all those with whom we are called to live. With the Psalmist we proclaim our hope: “God will deliver my soul” (Ps 49:16) and deliver our land.

Today’s Readings: Acts 9:31-42; Psalm 116:12-17; John 6:60-69

The name of today’s saint has become synonymous with Catholic education. He was born in France and as a young priest saw the need for the education of poor boys. In 1684 he and twelve teachers formed a religious congregation which came to be known as the Christian Brothers. Today they serve over 900,000 students in 80 countries. In 1950 Pope Pius XII named him the patron saint of teachers.

With the intercessory help of St. John Baptist de La Salle, let us focus our attention on this month’s Mission Intention, asking God to bless the seminarians in mission countries with the same zeal for souls that our saint had. May they have the charity revealed in the following excerpt from the writings of St. John Baptist de La Salle.

Adapt yourself with gracious and charitable compliance to all your neighbor’s weaknesses. In particular, make a rule to hide your feelings in inconsequential matters. Give up all bitterness toward your neighbor, no matter what. Each day look for every possible opportunity to do a kindness for those you do not like. After examining yourself on this matter every morning, decide what you are going to do, and do it faithfully with kindness and humility. Be sure to be warmly affable toward everyone. Speak to and answer everyone with very great gentleness and deference. Keep in mind the way the Lord spoke and replied to others even when he was most harshly treated. Never comment on the faults or the behavior of your neighbors. When others speak of them, put a good interpretation on their actions. If you cannot, say nothing at all. In short, decide never to speak of the failings of others nor to reprimand them no matter how serious they seem to you. When you see someone fall into some fault, call to mind the gospel saying, “You can see the splinter in your brother’s eye, but you cannot see the beam in your own” (Matthew 7: 3).

Today’s Readings: Acts 6: 8-15;  Psalm 119: 23-24, 26-27, 29-30;  John 6: 22-29