Pope's mission prayer intention for the month of July

(July 02, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI’s missionary prayer intention for the month of July is for Christian volunteers – that in mission territories they may witness to the love of Christ. If we look at any diocese or parish in any part of the world, we come to realize that the Catholic Church’s pastoral and charitable programmes depend a lot on volunteers. A clear example is the parish council, whose members give their time and energy freely. When Pope Benedict XVI met volunteers during his visit to Austria in 2007, he thanked God that “many people consider it an honour to engage in volunteer service to individuals, groups and organizations, or to respond to specific needs concerning the common good." Last year he reminded a group of volunteers that their work is not merely an expression of good will. It is based on a personal experience of Christ who freely served humanity even to the point of sacrificing his life for the good of all. The Pope said that “volunteers thus become visible instruments of God’s love in a world that still profoundly yearns for that love amid the poverty, loneliness, marginalization and ignorance that we see all around us.” Let us therefore join Pope Benedict in praying for volunteers in mission territories where their generous service is a powerful witness to Christ’s love and mercy for all mankind.