Missionary prayer intention of the Holy Father for May
(May 1, 2010) And before we go ahead, here is a brief comment on Pope Benedict XVI’s
general prayer intention for the month of May - that priests, religious women and
men, and lay people involved in apostolic work may understand how to bring missionary
enthusiasm to the communities they serve. The Holy Father often asks us to pray for
a missionary spirit to pervade the entire Church, but this month we are praying specifically
for those priests, religious men and women, and lay ministers who are actively involved
in apostolic work. At the Ascension Jesus told his disciples that when they received
the Holy Spirit they would receive the power to be witnesses to him to the very ends
of the earth. And they did. We need that power now—all of us. Have you ever heard
some good news that you couldn’t wait to tell someone else? You couldn’t keep it
to yourself. That’s the way it’s supposed to be with all of us who have received
new life in baptism, especially those who have been called to serve Church ministries.
Church workers are to be so inspired by the Holy Spirit that they, like the first
disciples after Pentecost, cannot keep the Good News to themselves. From a very small
beginning, the Gospel has spread to the ends of the earth. And from your parish, it
can spread across your city or county, your state and the nation. Let us, therefore,
join the Holy Father in praying that priests, religious women and men, and lay people
involved in apostolic work may understand how to bring missionary enthusiasm to the
communities they serve.