Pope urges prayers for vocations

(May 4, 2009) Pope Benedict ordained 19 new priests for the Diocese of Rome at a Mass held in St. Peter's Basilica Sunday morning. Thirteen of them were Italians and six came from other countries: Nigeria, Haiti, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Chile and South Korea. The priestly ordinations took place on the Catholic Church’s World Day of Prayer for Vocations, whose theme this year was, "Faith in the Divine Initiative - The Human Response." In his homily at Mass, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged priests to pray a lot and pray well, saying that in this way they will be increasingly united to Christ. He encouraged them to live a life of total surrender to God, like that of the apostles who changed the course of history proclaiming salvation in the name of Christ. He also observed that the "world" also ensnares the Church, "contaminating its members and even the ordained ministers," which demands constant vigilance and purification.
Later, during the midday “Regina Coeli” Pope Benedict again took up the issue World Day of Prayer for Vocations inviting the faithful to pray for all types of vocations, priestly as well as religious. "In fact, trust in the Lord, which continuously calls to sanctity and, for some in particular, to a special consecration, is expressed precisely in prayer," the Pontiff said. "As much personally as in community, we have to pray a lot for vocations, so that the greatness and the beauty of the love of God attracts many to follow Christ on the path of the priesthood and the consecrated life." He said the Church needs holy spouses who can teach their children by example how best to use their freedom.