Once More, Pope Emphasizes Mission, Evangelism

In his message for the “Day of Prayer for Vocations,” the Holy Father highlighted the close connection of the priesthood and religious life to the mission of the Church. “Mission” and “evangelism” have been present in many of the pope’s public messages lately. The evangelism in question doesn’t appear to the the “new” kind, but the perennial kind he thus described to the Cuban bishops on another occasion:

To announce true doctrine, to begin listening to and deepening one’s understanding of the word of God, to promote participation in the sacraments and foster a life of prayer are primary goals of pastoral action. Bringing to all the salvation of Christ is the nucleus of the mission of the Church.

Here is the full report, from CWN:

Vatican, Feb. 22, 2008 (CWNews.com) – Every Christian is called to missionary activity, but some serve the cause of evangelization in a special way through priestly ministry and religious life, Pope Benedict XVI writes in his annual message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be observed on April 13. The Pope’s message for the occasion was released by the Vatican on February 22, and the full text can be found on the Vatican web site. The message, entitled “Vocations at the Service of the Church on Mission,” was simultaneously released in Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, and Polish translations.

The missionary work of the Church, the Pope says, is “associated and to announce the Gospel, but this missionary dimension is associated in a special and intimate way with the priestly vocation.” He explains that priests are called to act as “close collaborators in the Messianic ministry,” following after the first apostles.

“To respond to the Lord’s call,” the Pope observes, “means facing in prudence and simplicity every danger and even persecutions, since ‘a disciple is not above his teacher nor a servant about his master.'” Priests do not work alone, he writes; they are always accompanied by Christ on their mission.

Along with priests, the Pope continues, the Church needs the steadfast support of religious for her missionary work. He points to the “multitude of men and women religious, belonging to innumerable institutes of contemplative and active life,” who remain key players in the task of evangelization.

“Vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life can only flourish in a spiritual soil that is well cultivated,” the Pope reminds his readers. Healthy Christian communities always produce missionary activity, he says, and that activity inspires more vocations for the work.