Pope Benedict on Vocations - Sunday January 15th 2012

Yesterday (January 15th 2012) during the Angelus in Saint Peter's Square in Rome, Pope Benedict spoke on vocations. His reflection was prompted by the Gospel passage for the second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) which was from Saint John's Gospel: "The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed 'Look, there is the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, 'What are you looking for?' They said to him, 'Rabbi, where are you staying?' He said to them, 'Come and see.' 

The Holy Father in his reflection points out that the call to follow Jesus more closely and dedicating oneself to a vocation in the service of the church usually comes from the 'testimony' or a 'suggestion' of another person - often a priest or religious. This has been a constant and important theme on vocation for Pope Benedict, namely that the witness of others is a very important in prompting men and women to consider a religious or priestly vocation. Anyone involved in vocation ministry will understand how true this is and ought not to underestimate its importance.