Pope’s message for World Vocations Day: ‘St. Joseph an example of faithful service'
By Devin Watkins
As the Church marks the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Pope Francis released his Message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which falls this year on 25 April.
The Pope held up the husband of the Virgin Mary and foster-father of Jesus as a model for all members of the clergy and religious men and women. He drew heavily on his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, released on 8 December 2020, which seeks to “increase our love for this great saint.”
Heart of a father
St. Joseph, said the Pope, is an extraordinary figure, not because of any astonishing charism or special status, but because he accomplished extraordinary acts of service in his daily life.
“God looks on the heart,” he said, “and in Saint Joseph He recognized the heart of a father, able to give and generate life in the midst of daily routines.”
Vocations, he added, have the same goal of begetting and renewing the lives of others.
The priesthood and consecrated life, he said, require men and women with open hearts, who are “capable of great initiatives, generous in self-giving, compassionate in comforting anxieties and steadfast in strengthening hopes.”
Chasing a dream
Pope Francis went on to focus on three key words which St. Joseph suggests for each individual’s vocation: dream, service, and fidelity.
The Gospel of Matthew recounts four dreams with which God inspired St. Joseph, each of which represented a difficult call from God.
“After each dream, Joseph had to change his plans and take a risk, sacrificing his own plans in order to follow the mysterious designs of God, whom he trusted completely.”
Though it seems strange to us that he would put so much trust in dreams, the Saint let himself be guided without hesitation.
“Why?” mused the Pope. “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.”
God’s call to each of us, said Pope Francis, happens in the same way, without putting pressure on our freedom. “He does not overwhelm us with dazzling visions but quietly speaks in the depths of our heart, drawing near to us and speaking to us through our thoughts and feelings.”
Yet, as St. Joseph demonstrates, our acceptance of God’s call cannot be passive, but requires us to press forward and take risks by abandoning ourselves to graceOTHER BIBLE LIGHTS PROMOTIONS WEBSITE
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