Papa Benedict: Well Said, Part III

The third question Pope Benedict answered concerned the decline and fall of vocations in America. Pope Benedict replied by insisting that vocations have not declined; rather, the number of those answering vocations has declined. This is an important point. In an experience-based culture such as our own modern society, we tend to think, "if I don't feel it, it must not be." This, of course, is silly, but that's besides the point. The problem is that we tend to ignore the call of God (in whatever direction) and then claim that we didn't hear anything, so we must not have been called. This is not far off from a child who discovers that plugging his ears makes mom's and dad's repeated instructions to mow the yard not only null and void, but almost as if they didn't exist. It is no surprise; God speaks through a still, small voice, and our daily lives are 300 decibel jackhammers by comparison. The problem is that we're not listening, and even if we try to listen, we aren't aware that we're drowing Him out.

The pope picked up on this right away: "Strange to say, I often think that prayer - the unum necessarium - is the one aspect of vocations work which we tend to forget sometimes or to undervalue! Nor am I speaking only of prayer for vocations. Prayer itself, born in Catholic families, nurtured by programs of Christian formation, strengthened by the grace of the sacraments -- prayer is the first means by which we come to know the Lord's will for our lives. To the extent that we teach young people to pray, and to pray well, we will be cooperating with God's call. So I think learning prayer, being prayerful people, is an essential point for the living church. Programs, plans, projects are necessary and have their place; but the discernment of a vocation is above all the fruit of an intimate dialogue between the Lord and his disciples. Young people, if they know how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God's call."

So at the center of Pope Benedict's plan for increased vocations is the call to prayer. I will not now pretend to be an expert in the subject; my own prayer life is marred by failures and bouts of acedia. However, as a youth minister, I can see that prayer is becoming an ever more important thing to pass on effectively to my disciples. As the pope expressed, "I think there is a growing thirst for holiness in many young people, and that those who come forward show great idealism and much promise." I know that I thirst for holiness; the question is, will I respond?

Here's a challenge for my readers: suggest to me good books on prayer, not books on the theology behind prayer, but actual instruction, meditation, and aid for prayer, something that will significantly aid my attempt to renew a prayerful spirit within myself.

As for you, readers, I recommend the short, sweet (and sometimes bittersweet) sentences of St. Josemaria Escriva. I have only read about a few hundred of his sayings, but I found them very powerful food for my soul. Last night, I returned again to some of them. If we had Opus Dei down here, I would surely like to get involved.

His Servant and Yours,

Micah