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Showing posts with the label Vocations

Saint John Paul II’s Prayer for Religious Vocations

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Lord Jesus, as once you called the first disciples and made them fishers of men, continue to let resound today your sweet invitation: "Come, and follow me." Grant to men and women in our day the grace and trust to respond to your voice. Sustain our bishops, priests, and consecrated souls in their apostolic work. Give perseverance to our seminarians and to all those living a life of total consecration to your service. Enkindle in our communities missionary zeal. Send, Lord, workers into your fields to feed and guide your flock as Good Shepherds in imitation of You. Mary, mother of the Church and model of vocations, help us to say "YES" to the Lord who calls each one of us to play our part in His plan of salvation. Amen. — St. John Paul II

Pope Benedict XVI on Prayer

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Prayer itself, born in Catholic families, nurtured by programs of Christian formation, strengthened by the grace of the sacraments, is the first means by which we come to know the Lord’s will for our lives. To the extent that we teach young people to pray, and to pray well, we will be cooperating with God’s call. Programs, plans and projects have their place; but the discernment of a vocation is above all the fruit of an intimate dialogue between the Lord and his disciples. Young people, if they know how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God’s call. — Pope Benedict XVI ____________________________________________________ A Prayer For Discernment All highest, glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of my heart. Give me right faith, firm hope, perfect charity and profound humility with wisdom and perception, O Lord, so that I may do what is truly Your holy will. Amen.

January's Blog of Note: Roman Catholic Vocations

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Although it has not published in several years, January's blog of note is Roman Catholic Vocations . Prior to the internet, deciding on which religious order to enter, for one called, was decidedly more serendipitous, if not almost entirely providential. While God has always chosen whom he wills, the notion of entering one religious community over another was owed more to immediate experience, personal encounters or geography than inclination, although the later played a role. At least, this was the case among the religious of previous generations. Modern technology allows current day discerners to simply serf for the best fit. Whether you feel called to be a cloistered nun or a mendicant brother, a diocesan priest or to marriage, Roman Catholic Vocations has something to offer. Faithful to the Magisterium, it's content features prayers, reflections, countless men's and women's religious vocation links and videos. From below the website's masthead: "If

St. Jane Frances de Chantal's Word's of Encouragement to Her Religious Community

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Saint Jane Frances de Chantal was a prolific writer of letters concerning the spiritual formation and well-being of her correspondents. Men and women from every walk of life sought out her wisdom and insight. In this letter to her fellow Visitation sisters, Mother Chantal dispenses with motherly tenderness advice to her 'daughters' on successfully living out their vocations. Letter of Mother Chantal to the Sisters of the Monastery of the Visitation (Annecy, France) 16th February 1615 Excuse me, I beg of you, my dearest and very good Sisters, if I do not answer you each one separately, which indeed the kindness you have shown me deserves that I should do, and my affection for you would desire: but neither head nor leisure permit it, and besides, God be thanked for it, I see no necessity to write to any one in particular. Persevere in your good desires and every day become more faithful to the observance of your holy Rules and love them better. This alone, believe me, sh

Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus? Actually, Both are from God, and Called to Sainthood

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Pop Psychology vs. Catholic Theology The book Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus tries to explain male/female relationships by examining the differing emotional needs and perceptions of spouses. The Church teaches and Sacred Scripture affirms that men and women were both from Eden before sin and selfishness replaced love and selflessness. When our first parents turned away from God, the source of life, goodness, truth and beauty, it altered every aspect of our existence. Love, courtship and marriage are difficult under the best of circumstances. One thing is clear, men and women, though equal in dignity are fundamentally different so as to complement each other. Some call this a stereotype. Others refute it as chauvinism. Such views dismiss the design of Providence as arbitrary and fallible. In making us male and female, God is telling us things otherwise unknowable about human beings and Himself. Saint John Paul II observed that in "the beginning," man and woman v

June's Blog of Note: Domine mihi hanc aquam! - An Interview With Fr. Philip Neri Powell, O.P.

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June's blog of note, Domine mihi hanc aquam! , has long been a fixture of the Catholic blogosphere. Since November, 2005, Fr. Philip Neri Powell, a Dominican seminary professor, formation advisor and parish priest, has preached and commented about Christ, the Church, popular culture and events of consequence. Featured are Fr. Powell's thought provoking homilies through which readers know and love the mind of Christ. The wide ranging scope of HA's subject matter is reflected in a quote from Pope Benedict XVI displayed on the blog's masthead: "A [preacher] who does not love art, poetry, music and nature can be dangerous. Blindness and deafness toward the beautiful are not incidental; they are necessarily reflected in his [preaching]." In addition to faithful homiletics, readers are just as likely to see advice for discerning a religious vocation , a presentation of original paintings or a polemic against the "Culture of Death." Domine mihi hanc