‘There are very few young priests anymore.’
I smile when I hear this said kindly to me (I’m 55 !!), but it is a true statement and one that needs acknowledgement. Conversations on the topic of vocations can take off in several tantalising directions. Some presume it’s lonely, isolating and any number of negative things. Priests however will generally report the opposite- a happiness and contentment that is at least as good and possibly better than most other walks of life. With an increasing number of single occupancy households- loneliness is not the preserve of priesthood. While we need to re-awaken our sense of our common baptism we also need priests so badly.
Karl Rahner SJ once wrote:”But must not some one of us say something about God, about eternal life, about the majesty of grace in our sanctified being.” There are ups and downs in every way of life. Why not this weekend name some of the good things in your life and work and pray that some will answer the call to priesthood to raise up the minds and hearts of people and dream big dreams.
MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS FOR WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS 2021