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17 April 2005
"Theme: Prayer for Vocations"
"Called to put out into the deep"
Venerable Brethren in the Episcopate,
dearest Brothers and Sisters!
1. "'Duc in altum!'" At the beginning of the Apostolic Letter "Novo
Millennio Ineunte," I made reference to the words with which Jesus
encourages the first disciples to let down their nets for a catch, which
turned out to be a marvelous one. Jesus says to Peter: "'Duc in altum'
-- Put out into the deep" (Luke 5:4). "Peter and the first companions
trusted Christ's words and cast their nets" ("Novo Millennio Ineunte,"
1).
This well-known Gospel scene can serve as the background setting of the
coming World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which has the theme: "Called
to put out into the deep." This is a special occasion for reflecting on
the vocation to follow Christ and, in particular, to follow him in the
priesthood and the consecrated life.
2. "Duc in altum!" The command of Christ is particularly relevant in our
time, when there is a widespread mentality which, in the face of
difficulties, favors personal non-commitment. The first condition for
"putting out into the deep" is to cultivate a deep spirit of prayer
nourished by a daily listening to the Word of God. The authenticity of
the Christian life is measured by the depth of one's prayer, an art that
must be humbly learnt "from the lips of the Divine Master," almost
imploring "like the first disciples: 'Lord, teach us to pray!' (Luke
11:1). In prayer, a conversation with Christ develops and it makes us
his intimate friends: 'Abide in me and I in you' (John 15:4)" ("Novo
Millennio Ineunte," 32).
The link with Christ through prayer also makes us aware that He is also
present in moments of apparent failure, when tireless effort seems
useless, as happened to the Apostles themselves, who after toiling all
night, exclaimed: "Master, we took nothing" (Luke 5:5). It is especially
in these moments that one needs to open one's heart to the abundance of
grace and to allow the word of the Redeemer to act with all its power:
"'Duc in altum!'" (cfr. "Novo Millennio Ineunte," 38).
3. Whoever opens his heart to Christ will not only understand the
mystery of his own existence, but also that of his own vocation; he will
bear the abundant fruit of grace. The first fruit will be his growth in
holiness, in the course of a spiritual journey which begins with the
gift of Baptism and continues even to the fullness of perfect love (cfr.
ibid., 30). Living the Gospel without adding to it, the Christian
becomes always increasingly capable of loving in the way that Christ
loved, and welcomes the exhortation of Christ: "You, therefore, must be
perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). He will
commit himself to persevering in unity with his brothers within the
communion of the Church, and he will place himself at the service of the
new evangelization, to proclaim and bear witness to the wonderful truth
of the saving love of God.
4. Dear adolescents and young people, it is to you in a particular way
that I renew the invitation of Christ to "put out into the deep." You
find yourselves having to make important decisions for your future. I
still hold in my heart the memory of the many opportunities I have had
over the years to meet with young people, who have now become adults,
some of them your own parents perhaps, or priests or religious, your
teachers in the faith. I saw them, happy as young people should be, but
also thoughtful, because they were conscious of a desire to give full
"meaning" to their lives. I came to recognize more and more how strong
is the attraction in young people to the values of the spirit, and how
sincere is their desire for holiness. Young people need Christ, but they
also know that Christ chose to be in need of them.
Dear young men and women! Trust Christ; listen attentively to his
teachings, fix your eyes on his face, persevere in listening to his
Word. Allow Him to focus your search and your aspirations, all your
ideals and the desires of your heart.
5. Now I turn to you, dear parents and Christian educators, to you dear
priests, consecrated persons and catechists. God has entrusted to you
the peculiar task of guiding young people on the path to holiness. Be an
example to them of generous fidelity to Christ. Encourage them to "put
out into the deep" without hesitation, responding eagerly to the
invitation of the Lord. Some he calls to family life, others to
consecrated life or to the ministerial priesthood. Help them to discern
their path, and to become true friends of Christ and his true disciples.
When adult Christians show themselves capable of revealing the face of
Christ through their own words and example, young people are more ready
to welcome His demanding message, stamped as it is with the mystery of
the Cross.
Do not forget that today too there is need of holy priests, of persons
wholly consecrated to the service of God! With this in mind, I want to
repeat once more: "There is a pressing need to implement an extensive
plan of vocational promotion, based on personal contact and involving
parishes, schools, and families in the effort to foster a more attentive
reflection on the essential values of life. These values reach their
fulfillment in the response which each person is invited to give to
God's call, particularly when the call implies the total gift of oneself
and of one's energies for the sake of the Kingdom" ("Novo Millennio
Ineunte," 46).
To you, young people, I repeat the word of Jesus: "'Duc in altum!'" In
proposing His exhortation once more to you, I think at the same time of
the words which Mary, his Mother, addressed to the servants at Cana in
Galilee: "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). Dear young people,
Christ is asking you to "put out into the deep" and the Virgin Mary is
encouraging you not to hesitate in following Him.
6. May an ardent prayer sustained by the motherly intercession of Mary,
rise from every corner of the earth, to the heavenly Father to obtain
"laborers for his harvest" (Matthew 9:38). May He give zealous and holy
priests to every part of his flock. Sustained by this awareness we turn
to Christ, the High Priest, and we pray to Him with renewed trust:
Jesus, Son of God,
in whom the fullness of the Divinity dwells,
You call all the baptized to "put out into the deep,"
taking the path that leads to holiness.
Waken in the hearts of young people the desire
to be witnesses in the world of today
to the power of your love.
Fill them with your Spirit of fortitude and prudence,
so that they may be able to discover the full truth
about themselves and their own vocation.
Our Savior,
sent by the Father to reveal His merciful love,
give to your Church the gift
of young people who are ready to put out into the deep,
to be the sign among their brothers
of Your presence which renews and saves.
Holy Virgin, Mother of the Redeemer,
sure guide on the way towards God and towards neighbor,
You who pondered his word in the depth of your heart,
sustain with your motherly intercession
our families and our ecclesial communities,
so that they may help adolescents and young people
to answer generously the call of the Lord.
Amen.
given at
Castel Gandolfo, on 11th August 2004
IOANNES PAULUS II
[Translation issued by the Vatican press office]
 JP II on Vocations |
