World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Today is both Good Shepherd Sunday (see the Liturgical Readings), as well as the 47th World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

From Pope Benedict's special message for today:

"God's free and gracious initiative encounters and challenges the human responsibility of all those who accept his invitation to become, through their own witness, the instruments of his divine call."

There is also a brand new website launched today by the U.S. Bishops: For Your Vocation. Looks like a helpful initiative!

It was neat (and fitting) that myself and two siblings portrayed saints in first person for a Religious Education "Family Day" this morning. I was St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, patroness of the Catholic Education System in America, and the first American-born Saint to be canonized.

Let us pray for many holy vocations: to matrimony, to priesthood, and to consecrated life, that we may build the Kingdom with all that we are!

I love St. Edith Stein!

"O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me, and I shall meet it with peace."

-Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

Tomorrow

I will be joined by a group of delightful young ladies going with me to the Institute on Religious Life. Say a little prayer for all the religious there (from around the U.S.!) and the discerning youth, will you?

Wow

I stumbled across this video the other day...the picture quality isn't that great, but the story is worth it!

He is Risen

At my other blog, I'm having a fun contest (of sorts) using multi-lingual Easter greetings!

On a personal note, please say a little prayer that I can recover soon from an all-out cold that hit me the end of Holy Week...not just a few sniffles. It's been rather physically (and at times emotionally) draining. Thanks. :)