[Editor's Note: Apostleship of Prayer receives monthly prayer intentions from Pope Benedict XVI and urges Christians throughout the world to unite in prayer for those intentions. The reflections below seek to illuminate the Holy Father's concerns.]
General Intention
Call to Holiness. That guided by the Holy Spirit, each Christian may respond enthusiastically and faithfully to the universal call to holiness.
We who belong to the Church founded by Jesus Christ commit sins every day, yet the Church of Christ is perfectly holy. How can this be? The Vatican II document Lumen Gentium explains that the Church is holy because it is the very Body of Jesus Christ, the uniquely holy Son of God. Jesus loved the Church as His bride, delivering Himself up for her to make her holy. Jesus and His bride, the Church, are one, and this union is holy.
Christians are called to practice holiness, to walk as Jesus walked. We all receive power from on high through the Holy Spirit to believe, to love, and to be virtuous in every way. Jesus said, "Be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mat. 5:48).
Yet what is perfect for one person is not what is perfect for another. We have differing gifts of the Holy Spirit just as we have different roles in life, different circumstances, and different challenges. We learn to embrace God's perfect will in all of them.
We are not to judge one another's lack of holiness, but to help one another become as holy as each one can. When we sin, we confess our sins, and God forgives us and cleanses us — no matter how many times we fail.
To attain the holiness of Jesus, we each must learn how to lay down our lives for others. The Apostleship of Prayer asks its members to offer each day as a sacrifice for others — all our prayers, works, joys, and sufferings. Such sacrifice is our daily participation in the Sacrifice of the Mass. Through our daily offering, we abide in Christ. In Christ and by the Holy Spirit, we offer ourselves to God in reparation for our own sins and the sins of others until we all come into the holiness of the Kingdom of God.
For Reflection
In what area do you need the Holy Spirit to renew your hope of holiness and grant you grace to overcome sin?
Scripture
John 8:3-11 — Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and … do not sin anymore."
Romans 8:1-5 — Christ has freed you from the law of sin and death.
Mission Intention
Vocations. That the number of priestly and religious vocations may grow to meet the needs of North America and countries of the Pacific Ocean.
In his Message for the 2006 World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Benedict XVI states that we were all called by God before the creation of the world. Whatever our call, love is the reason. Whatever our response, God always loves us first.
Many stifle God's call to religious life out of fear that they are too sinful to serve God. To them the Pope replies, "The prodigal son's awareness of his own sin allowed him to set out on his return journey to the Father." So St. Paul understood that the power of Christ rested upon him in weakness, not strength (2 Cor. 12:9).
Pope Benedict reflects that God calls to the priesthood men "who are to exercise a fatherly role." And God calls to consecrated life women who, like Mary, Mary of Bethany, or Mary Magdalene "follow him on their own initiative, simply out of love." For by the Code of Canon Law the first duty of all who are called to religious life is to seek "union with God in prayer" (663 §1).
Jesus knew that His sheep would need many shepherds. "The harvest is abundant and the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for His harvest" (Mat. 9:37-38). To that Pope Benedict adds, "It is not surprising that, where people pray fervently, vocations flourish."
So our vocation is to pray for vocations. Let men and women respond to God's call to religious life, especially in areas of the world where they are most needed, including in North America and the countries of the Pacific.
For Reflection
God calls, but always leaves us free to refuse. Facing many questions, Mary said, "Be it done unto me according to your word."
Scripture
Romans 8:28-29 — God calls us all to be in the image of His Son.
1 Peter 2:5-10 — We are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood."
Daily Offering Prayer
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.
Prayer of the Month
Grant, O Father, that the Church may welcome with joy
the numerous inspirations of the Spirit of your Son
and, docile to His teachings,
may she care for vocations to the ministerial priesthood
and to the consecrated life.
Sustain the Bishops, priests and deacons,
consecrated men and women, and all the baptized in Christ,
so that they may faithfully fulfill their mission
at the service of the Gospel.
This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
(from Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
for the 43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations)
