Vocation Sunday

“God’s call makes our greatest dreams come true” – Pope Francis

The first Vocation Sunday

Pope Paul VI in 1964, established the first World Day of Prayer for Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday, which is now celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Easter and known as ‘Vocation Sunday.’

The 58^th World day of Prayer for Vocations falls on April 25, 2021

Being dedicated this year to our dear Patron Saint Joseph, Pope Francis in his message enumerates the life and the vocation of St. Joseph.  

Pope Francis connects the message to his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, which was released on 8 December 2020. Through this letter, Pope urges every faithful to increase their love towards this great Saint.

Highlights of Pope’s message

St. Joseph being an extraordinary figure, yet he is so close to our own human experiences. He did not have unique charisms nor he was highlighted in the Bible. Lived an ordinary life accomplishing extraordinary things in the eyes of God.

The Three Keywords from the life of St. Joseph are very much connected to each individual’s vocation.

• Dream: Mathew in his Gospel recounts four dreams of St. Joseph. In each dream, Joseph gets a difficult call from God to change his plans and to take a risk in order to follow the divine plans. Why did Joseph hasten to fulfill the dreams? Pope Francis says “Because his heart was directed to God, it was already inclined towards Him. A small indication was enough for his watchful ‘inner ear’ to recognize God’s Voice.” 

• Service: Pope Francis considers St. Joseph’s vocation to service. Joseph lived entirely for Jesus and Mary and never for himself. He serves them, protects them, and cares for them. Pope Francis calls this great saint as ‘Protector of Vocations’. 

• Fidelity: Pope Francis says, “Success in life is built on constant fidelity to important decisions.’ As consecrated persons, what matters is one’s fidelity in the light of God’s faithfulness.

Pope Francis concludes the message by urging the consecrated to fill their homes/communities with simple and radiant, sober and hopeful joy that was present in the home of Nazareth.

Click on the following link to read the full message.

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/vocations/documents/papa-francesco_20210319_58-messaggio-giornata-mondiale-vocazioni.html

Laveena CSJ
Tanmaya Province / India

---