December 10, 2006

This Advent occasions thanks for the historic journey of Pope Benedict XVI to Turkey and his safe return to Rome. Future generations will appreciate more accurately the importance of that visit. Few commentators noted the powerful fact that when he entered the Blue Mosque as a gesture of courtesy and charity to his Muslim hosts, he wore the Cross on his chest and touched it as he prayed. I am sure he prayed as his first predecessor, St. Peter, would have prayed, to his crucified and risen Lord.

These are unprecedented years in the drama of religion. As at Christmas we shall give thanks for the Incarnation, so now, each day, we are living through the immediate results of that enfleshment of Christ the High Priest. The Pope went to Turkey as a priest. This is a powerful and enviable time to be a priest, and Satan, who is Anti-Christ and therefore Anti-Priest, has been displeased. Recent years have shown his hostility to the priesthood and his futile attempts to destroy it. We are in the midst of a great new epoch in the life of the Church and with it is a new budding of priestly vocations and many of them are here in New York.

On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Father Luke Sweeney preached at the Masses. He is the new director for vocations in the archdiocese and has occasionally celebrated at our altar. In our parish young men have been discerning their vocation to serve Christ as priests, and to join the new generation of those called to lead the Church in the current challenge to Christian civilization.

Everyone has a vocation to some state of life. Everyone is also obliged cheerfully to pray for particular vocations to the priesthood, without which there would be no Eucharist or sacramental life. God the Father has given us the gift of his Only Begotten Son and, at Christmas, the finest gift we could give Him in return is the offering of bright and strong young men consecrating their lives to Him, strengthening the work of the Pope just as Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses in battle. This will be the special intention of our parish in the holy seasons of Advent and Christmas. To this end, all should pray these words from the Roman Missal:

Lord Jesus Christ, shepherd of souls, who called the apostles to be fishers of men, raise up new apostles in your holy Church. Teach them that to serve you is to reign: to possess you is to possess all things. Kindle in the hearts of our young people the fire of zeal for souls. Make them eager to spread your Kingdom upon earth. Grant them courage to follow you, who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life; who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.