Urges Faithful to Pray for Vocations
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 29, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Christ continues to seek "fishers of men" to work with him to announce the good news, Benedict XVI said on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
The Holy Father said this today before reciting the Regina Caeli with those gathered in St. Peter's Square, and after ordaining 22 deacons to the priesthood in St. Peter's Basilica.
The Pope asked those present "to remember in your prayers those whom the Lord continues to call by name -- as he did one day with the apostles on the shores of the Sea of Galilee -- that they may become 'fishers of men.'"
The Pontiff also asked the faithful to "pray for the gift of perseverance for all priests," for candidates to the priesthood, their instructors, and for families so "that they continue to allow the 'seed' of the call to the ministerial priesthood to mature and blossom."
The theme for this year's World Day of Prayer for Vocations is "Vocation at the Service of the Church as Communion."
Benedict XVI said that even though "all the baptized are called to contribute to the work of salvation ... there are, however, some vocations that are especially dedicated to the service of communion."
The Pontiff said that the "one who is primarily responsible for Catholic communion is the Pope," who is aided by the bishops and priests.
"But consecrated persons and all the faithful are also at the service of communion," the Holy Father added.
"The Eucharist," said Benedict XVI, "is at the heart of the Church as communion: From this greatest sacrament the various vocations draw the spiritual strength to continually build up the one ecclesial body in charity."
Code: ZE07042905
Date: 2007-04-29