May 2010 CFR Vocations eLetter

May the Risen Lord give you His peace! May is Mary's month.

One of my favorite lines from the Second Vatican Council is: “Man only finds himself in the sincere giving of himself” (cf. Gaudium et Spes 24). This quote contains a key insight into the heart of every human person’s true vocation:loving self-donation. The bottom line of all discernment is the question: “How does God want me to give myself to Him and my neighbor?” It does not matter if we are called to the priesthood, religious life, lay consecration or married life. Every calling will (money-back guaranteed) include a daily dying to ourselves. It is part of the universal call of every Christian to take up the cross and follow Jesus. Every vocation is an invitation to the cross.

Dying to ourselves is not easy to say the least! The crosses that come to us run contrary to our inclination to be comfortable and self-centered. The crosses that meet us are impossible to bear on our own strength. Left to ourselves, we will be crushed under the weight of the cross. But we are not alone! Particularly in this month of May we must remember that Mary stood by the side of Jesus all along the Way of the Cross. She was with Him every step of the way. She gave Him motherly consolation and encouragement by sharing and participating in His saving sacrifice. How much more will Mary help her weak sons and daughters who are striving to follow the footprints of her Son?!

We must often call to mind, especially when times are most difficult, the loving presence of Mary our Mother. She walks along the way with us, guiding us at every step of the journey. When we are weary, one glance towards Her can renew our vigor and help us to give until it hurts. By Our Lady’s prayer and example we will be led out of ourselves and into the Heart of Her Son. There we will find the strength to follow Him, no matter what He asks of us.

Check it out ...
+ Pope Benedict in Fatima, May 2010
+ New York Times May April 25, 2010, Op-Ed
on the Birth Control Pill (some surprising info)
+ Video: Art Sculpture in the Eye of a Needle (interesting)
+ ALIVE! (online version of a very good Catholic newspaper in Ireland)