Day of Prayer for VOCATIONS 2007

Excerpts of the Message of the Holy Father for Vocation Sunday, with the theme The vocation to the service of the Church as communion..

The annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations is an appropriate occasion for highlighting the importance of vocations in the life and mission of the Church, as well as for intensifying our prayer that they may increase in number and quality.

The mission of the church, therefore, is founded on an intimate and faithful communion with God.

The care of vocations, demands a constant 'education' for the listening to the voice of God.

Docile and faithful listening can only take place in a climate of intimate communion with God which is realized principally in prayer.

Vocations to the priesthood and to other ministries and services flourish within the people of God wherever there are those in whom Christ can be seen through his Word, in the sacraments and especially in the Eucharist.

May the Virgin (Mary) who promptly answered the call of the Father...intercede so that the Christian people will not lack servants of divine joy...May she ensure, also in our times, an increase in the number of consecrated persons, who go against the current, living the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, and give witness in a prophetic way to Christ and his liberating message of salvation.


Click here for the full text of the message of the Holy Father for the 44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations (2007).