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September 2006 |
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 An unwillingness to carry the cross is an obstacle to fulfilling one's vocation. I see this in myself and every person who talks to me about their vocation. I mention this because... no one likes to suffer! Saint Francis received his vocation when Jesus spoke to him from the San Damiano Cross. Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Sept. 5) heard the call to quench the thirst of Jesus on the cross. September is a great month to pray about this struggle in your life. There are four feast days which allow us an opportunity to ponder the role of suffering in the Christian life, in the call of a vocation: 14th The Triumph of the Cross; 15th Our Lady of Sorrows; 17th Stigmata of St. Francis; 23rd St. Padre Pio. |
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• Fr. John Hardon article on Suffering and Vocations, and Sacrifice and Vocations. • Fr. Richard Roemer article on Suffering for Christ. • Great book by Archbishop Fulton Sheen, The Priest is not His Own. • Great Apostolic Letter by Pope John Paul II, On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering. |
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Sorry if we have not answered your letters or phone calls lately. I had a little health scare, praise the Lord I am fine now. Keep trying to get us around the end of September! |
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God bless you,
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 Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR Saint Joseph Friary 523 W. 142nd Street New York, NY 10031 (212)281-4355 (212)234-8871 fax Archive eLetters |
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May the Lord give you and the world His peace! This month I would like to write about vocations and the cross. Your vocation is the calling, the plan, the purpose for which God put you on this planet. Your vocation is a state in life by which you will become holy, make it to heaven and take as many people with you as possible. Jesus' cross is the only way to heaven, the royal road, the narrow path. Jesus did not suffer and die, so that now we do not have to suffer and die. Rather, Jesus suffered and died, so that now we can suffer and die with great meaning, purpose and peace. Therefore, every authentic vocation is a call to carry the cross (I could quote many Scripture passages). 
We are praying for you and your discernment everyday, especially on Wednesdays. Let us set our hands to the plow in the Lord's vineyard and not look back! "The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be
rewarded according to his own labor" (1 Cor 3:8).