Sunday, April 17, 2016

A World Day of Prayer for Vocations

I didn't know that there even was such a thing as a World Day of Prayer for Vocations until my workplace asked me to write a mass email to its vocations prospects on the matter. The first was assigned by Pope Paul VI in 1963 for Good Shepherd Sunday (which is the 3rd Sunday after Easter in the reformed lectionary, but the 2nd Sunday after Easter in the old): "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest". Earlier today, Pope Francis ordained eleven men to the priesthood.

I have a dim view of Pope Paul, to say the least; but it's always a good idea to pray for vocations, so I share two interesting photos from our wedding that I haven't circulated much before.

The servers, including two diocesan seminarians, pray a devotion before an image of the Sacred Heart in the narthex prior to the start of the nuptial Mass.

The schola chanters, led by a seminarian of the FSSP (Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter), rehearse in the baptistery. Or, by the looks of it, tell jokes in lieu of practicing....
"Lord Jesus, High Priest and universal Shepherd, Thou hast taught us to pray, saying: 'Pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest' (Mattew 9:38). Therefore we beseech Thee graciously to hear our supplications and raise up many generous souls who, inspired by Thy example and supported by Thy grace, may conceive the ardent desire to enter the ranks of Thy sacred ministers in order to continue the office of Thy one true priesthood."
--from a prayer by Pope Pius XII

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