The Pontifical Work for Vocations of the Congregation for Catholic Education has announced the Holy Fathers desire for worldwide and continual prayer for vocations during the 2005 Year of the Eucharist. The following selection of quotations are offered as an inspiration to Catholic communities in North and Central America as they pray for vocations during the month of February 2005 and throughout the remainder of the Eucharistic Year.

From Pope John Paul IIs, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation The Church in America n.40

"The indispensable role of the priest within the community must lead all the members of the Church in America to recognize the importance of promoting vocations. The American continent has many young people who represent an immense spiritual resource. Therefore, it is necessary to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life where they first develop, and Christian families must be invited to support their children if they feel called to follow this path. Vocations "are a gift of God" and 'they are born in communities of faith, above all in the family, the parish, Catholic schools and other Church organizations. Bishops and priests are particularly responsible for encouraging vocations by personally presenting the call, and above all by their witness of a life of fidelity, joy, enthusiasm and holiness. The entire People of God is responsible for promoting vocations, and does so chiefly by persistent and humble prayer for vocations.

The Church in America n. 76

"In concluding this Apostolic Exhortation, in which I have taken up the proposals of the Synod Fathers, I gladly welcome their suggestion to compose a prayer for the families of America:

We thank you, Lord Jesus,
you who, in becoming man,
chose to belong to a human family,
teach families the virtues which filled with light
the family home of Nazareth.
May families always be united,
as you and the Father are one,
and may they be living witnesses
to love, justice and solidarity;
make them schools of respect,
forgiveness and mutual help,
so that the world may believe.
Help them to be the source of vocations
to the priesthood and the consecrated life,
and all the other forms
of firm Christian commitment".

From Pope John Paul IIs Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n. 11

"The Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed" (I Corinthians 11, 23) instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of his body and his blood. The words of the apostle Paul bring us back to the dramatic setting in which the Eucharist was born. The Eucharist is indelibly marked by the event of the Lord's passion and death, of which it is not only a reminder but the sacramental re-presentation. It is the sacrifice of the cross perpetuated down the ages. This truth is well expressed by the words with which the assembly in the Latin rite responds to the priest's proclamation of the 'Mystery of faith': 'We announce your death, O Lord'. I wish once more to recall this truth and to join you, my dear brothers and sisters, in adoration before this mystery: a great mystery, a mystery of mercy. What more could Jesus have done for us? Truly, in the Eucharist, he shows us a love which goes "to the end" (see John 13, 1), a love which knows no measure". 

In his Apostolic Letter Mane Nobiscum Domine, the Holy Father has shown that the Eucharist is one of the main means that the Church has to turn to God and pray for Vocations for the Priesthood and the Consecrated life.

From the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the sacraments on John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Mane Nobiscum Domine, Suggestions and Proposals:

"The admirable practice of gathering in prayer before the tabernacle, to adore Christ truly present therein, was born of the need to reserve the Lord's Sacred Body for Communion for the sick and infirm. Recommended by the Church to her pastors and her faithful, Adoration of the Blessed
sacrament is highly expressive of the bond between the celebration of the Lord's Sacrifice and his permanent presence in the consecrated Host (see De Sacra Communione, 79-100; Ecclesia de Eucharistia, 25; Mysterium Fidei; Redemptionis Sacramentum, 129-141).

By remaining in prayer before the Lord Jesus, truly living in the Blessed Sacrament, not only is our union with him matured, but we are better disposed to more fruitfully celebrate it and to prolong those existential and reverential attitudes raised by it...'The prayers, hymns and chants used during Eucharistic exposition should all lead the faithful to focus their piety upon Christ the Lord. Readings from Sacred Scripture, together with a homily or brief exhortation moving the faithful to deepen in the Eucharistic mystery, may be used to increase the intimacy of their prayer. In such cases, it is recommendable that the faithful respond in song, and when appropriate, that they observe sacred silence' (De Sacra Communione, 95) (Suggestions and Proposals of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the sacraments about John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Mane Nobiscum Domine, n. 13-14)."

The Holy Father's special intentions may be the subject of the Prayer which the Catholic Communities in North and Central America may offer in the presence of the Holy Eucharist during this month of February 2005 leading the way to the whole Church to pray for Vocations as proposed by the Pontifical Work for Vocations.

From Pope John Paul IIs, Apostolic Letter Mane Nobiscum Domine, n. 30

"To you, dear brother Bishops, I commend this Year, confident that you will welcome my invitation with full apostolic zeal.

Dear priests, who repeat the words of consecration each day, and are witnesses and heralds of the great miracle of love which takes place at your hands: be challenged by the grace of this special Year; celebrate Holy Mass each day with the same joy and fervor with which you celebrated your first Mass, and willingly spend time in prayer before the tabernacle.

May this be a Year of grace also for you, deacons, who are so closely engaged in the ministry of the word and the service of the altar.

I ask you, lectors, acolytes and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, to become ever more aware of the gift you have received in the service entrusted to you for a more worthy celebration of the Eucharist.

In particular I appeal to you, the priests of the future. During your time in the seminary make every effort to experience the beauty not only of taking part daily in Holy Mass, but also of spending a certain amount of time in dialogue with the Eucharistic Lord.

Consecrated men and women called by that very consecration to more prolonged contemplation: never forget that Jesus in the tabernacle wants you to be at his side, so that he can fill your hearts with the experience of his friendship, which alone gives meaning and fulfillment to your lives.

May all of you, the Christian faithful, rediscover the gift of the Eucharist as light and strength for your daily lives in the world, in the exercise of your respective professions amid so many different situations. Rediscover this above all in order to experience fully the beauty and the mission of the family.

I have great expectations of you, young people, as I look forward to our meeting at the next World Youth Day in Cologne. The theme of our meeting "We have come to worship him" suggests how you can best experience this Eucharistic year. Bring to your encounter with Jesus, hidden in the Eucharist, all the enthusiasm of your age, all your hopes, all your desire to love."

The Pontifical Work for Vocations wishes to thank all the participating nations of North and Central America in this worldwide and continual prayer for vocations.

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