In the first Vocations eLetter I quoted Pope John Paul II on three reasons why it is hard for young men to embrace a religious vocation: "Fear of commitment, lack of a clear understanding of this calling, and a deficient relationship with Jesus Christ." This month will be about our new Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI (B16) and his vision for leading the Church. Sorry for all the text this month, I hope that it is helpful...

It has long been recognized that orders who are striving to follow the truth, i.e. orthodoxy, are mostly doing fine with vocations. Who wants to give their life for a half-baked version of religious life? Cardinal Ratzinger had as his motto, "Be Co-Workers In The Truth." As the Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, B16 had a very important job. The negative media obviously does not understand.

I love his words as pope thus far, they are echoes of JPII (which are echoes of the Gospel). "Charity without truth would be blind; truth without charity would be like a 'clanging cymbal'
(1 Cor 13:1)" - Homily Before the Conclave. Get to the Vatican web site, Zenit and EWTN to read what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church through our new pope. All of the big themes from JPII are there, yet B16 is his own man. Some are saying that he is one of the most brilliant minds in the Church today.

World Youth Day will be in Germany with the newly elected German Pontiff (1st one in 1000 years)! It is all a divine set up! B16 has already given a special mention to the youth in some of his talks. For all the emphasis on the truth, he is also very personable and humble. He has a reputation for great holiness. Like JPII so many times, B16 is already hitting the theme of witness to Jesus and the Gospel with "words" and "life"(what you believe & say and how you live) - a franciscan theme. Mary as Mother; New Evangelization; Jesus in the Eucharist; Unity of all Christians; Authentic Renewal with Vatican II as our "compass"; Orthodoxy; and the list goes on...

Regarding vocations let me offer a thought or two. If you read B16 in all the times he has spoken about being called to be the pope, a beautiful theme emerges: GOD chose him to be the pope, the Cardinals only elected the one God had already chosen (sounds like Acts 1). GOD will supply the strength and grace needed to answer the call. My agenda is two-fold. 1) NOT to do my own will. 2) To do God's will. The Lord is leading, guiding and shepherding His Church. B16 is very articulate on this theme, I have only paraphrased. Brothers, the same dynamic is true for each one of us. God has a vocation for you, a plan and purpose for your life! GOD chooses (not always the best). GOD calls. GOD supplies everything that is needed. GOD invites. I'm offering this thought as a call to trust in Him. Jesus, I trust in you.

During his inauguration Mass (April 24) B16 ended his homily by quoting JPII's first words as pope, "Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!" Then he said, "The Pope was also speaking to everyone, especially the young. Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen."

We are praying for you and your discernment everyday, especially on Wednesdays. May the Lord give you the grace to know His plan for your life and the courage to follow Jesus wherever He is calling you! As you may know, we are not running any special "Come and See" weekends. Rather, give me a call (keep trying!) and we will set up a visit. I think that this method is more helpful in your seeing our way of life as it is with no candy coating, etc. The harvest is ripe! Let us set our hands to the plow in the Lord's vineyard and not look back!