Pope’s message for the World Day of vocations

(March,31, 2000): In his message for the 46^th World Day of prayer for vocations to be held 3^rd May, Pope Benedict XVI invites all the faithful to pray incessantly for more vocations. The vocation to the priesthood and to consecrated life, constitutes a special gift of God, which becomes part of the great plan of love and salvation that God has for every man and women and for the whole of Humanity, the Pope says in his message for this day, which has as its theme: - “Faith in the divine initiatie – the human response”.
The Pope notes that over the centuries, countless ranks of priests and consecrated persons placed themselves totally at the service of the Gospel in the Church. The Pope expresses thanks that even today, God continues to call workers in his vineyard. Admitting the worrisome shortage of priests in some regions of the world, and the difficulties and obstacles the Church encounters along the way, the Pope says that we are sustained by the unshakable certitude that the God will firmly guide the Church towards the definitive fulfilment of His Kingdom. Therefore our first duty, says the Pope’s message is to keep alive in families and in parishes, in apostolic associations, and in all sectors of diocesan life, this appeal to the divine initiative with unceasing prayer.
Describing the Eucharist as the perfect gift that brings to fulfilment the plan of love for the redemption of the world, the Pope says the awareness of being saved by the love of Christ, which every Mass nourishes in the faithful and especially in priests, cannot but arouse within them a trusting, self abandonment to Christ, who gave his life for us.
Concluding his message for the World Day of Vocations, referring to Mary’s immediate affirmative response to the Angel, when she was called to be the Mother of God, Pope Benedict calls on all those chosen , to imitate Mary and commit themselves totally to realise the heavenly Fathers’ plan of salvation.