In a newly released document, Pope Francis said that to discern a vocation, people have to realize it’s a calling from a friend, Jesus. The document, “Christus Vivit” (“Christ Lives”), was the pope’s reflection on the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment.
“Christus Vivit” (“Christ Lives”), the pope’s reflections on the 2018 Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment, is a combination letter to young people about their place in the church and a plea to older members of the church not to stifle the enthusiasm of the young, but to offer gentle guidance when needed.
The concerns from youth and young adults discussed at the synod suggested providing assemblies or synods and on a parish level, priests and other leaders identifying mentors for young people, bringing youth into church leadership roles and help them to embrace their vocation.
God calls us all to live a holy life, to do the will of God in everything so that we may devote ourselves to the glory of God and to the service of our neighbors.
Through discernment, prayer and working for the greater honor and glory of God our whole life becomes our vocation.
We take time this first week of November to intentionally pray for a response to the vocations of priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life.
This year’s National Vocation Awareness Week allows me to highlight the remarkable health of the seminaries that form our future priests.
Single people are the forgotten members of the Catholic Church, said a Catholic journalist who has developed expertise on this issue over the past 20 years.
