1.   Welcoming

2. Opening Prayer

3. Theme of the Month:

The safest way for the fulfillment of the Christian vocation

         “With your life and your words you teach the people of every part of the world and in particular young people, to whom your apostolate is largely directed, that the example of Joseph of Nazareth, fully consecrated to the service of Jesus, is still the simplest, safest and most fascinating way to accomplish the Christian vocation and life in a full and joyful way. ”

(Pope Francis, Message to participants in the General Chapter

of the Oblates of Saint Joseph. 08/31/2018)

         Pope Francis, continuing the commitment of his predecessors, has sent us messages each year for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which have been an important occasion for reflection on vocations, in unity with the whole Church.

         In his Message for the 59th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis chose as the theme “Called to build the human family” and teaches us that “when we speak of “vocation”, then, it is not just about choosing this or that way of life, but vocation is about making God’s dream come true.” Let’s see:

         “Therefore, when we speak of “vocation”, then, it is not just about choosing this or that way of life, devoting one’s life to a certain ministry or being attracted by the charism of a religious family, movement or ecclesial community. It is about making God’s dream come true, the great vision of fraternity that Jesus cherished when he prayed to the Father “that they may all be one (Jn 17:21)”.

         In this same message for the 59th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis exhorts us to walk and work together, because “a great human family united in love is not a utopia, but the project for which God created us!”. Let’s see:

         “Each vocation in the Church, and in a broader sense in society, contributes to a common objective: to celebrate among men and women that harmony of manifold gifts that can only be brought about by the Holy Spirit. Priests, consecrated men and women, lay faithful: let us journey and work together in bearing witness to the truth that one great human family united in love is no utopian vision, but the very purpose for which God created us.”

         We can then summarize this teaching of Pope Francis by saying that building a great human family united in love is not a utopia. It is God’s great call. And for the realization of this dream we are all called: Priests, consecrated men and women, lay faithful. But how to do this in practice? Pope Francis does not offer a single answer, but he offers us precious guidelines, on which we will reflect in this year 2023. Let us start with two precious guidelines:

1) The safest way to fulfill the Christian vocation comes from the example of Joseph of Nazareth. Let’s see what Pope Francis said:

         “With your life and your words you teach the people of every part of the world and in particular young people, to whom your apostolate is largely directed, that the example of Joseph of Nazareth, fully consecrated to the service of Jesus, is still the simplest, safest and most fascinating way to accomplish the Christian vocation and life in a full and joyful way.”.

(Pope Francis, Message to participants in the General Chapter

of the Oblates of Saint Joseph. 08/31/2018)

2) “Saint Joseph comes to our aid” in listening and responding to the vocation received”. In his Message for the 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Francis chose as the theme “Saint Joseph: the dream of a vocation” and teaches us that Saint Joseph, “through his ordinary life, accomplished something extraordinary in the eyes of God ”, and that, “Saint Joseph comes to our help” in listening and responding to the vocation received. Let’s see:

         “Dear brothers and sisters,

         8 December last, the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, marked the beginning of a special year devoted to him (cf. Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, 8 December 2020). For my part, I wrote the Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, whose aim was “to increase our love for this great saint”. Saint Joseph is an extraordinary figure, yet at the same time one “so close to our own human experience”. He did not do astonishing things, he had no unique charisms, nor did he appear special in the eyes of those who met him. He was not famous or even noteworthy: the Gospels do not report even a single word of his. Still, through his ordinary life, he accomplished something extraordinary in the eyes of God.

         “God looks on the heart (cf. 1 Sam 16:7), and in Saint Joseph he recognized the heart of a father, able to give and generate life in the midst of daily routines. Vocations have this same goal: to beget and renew lives every day. The Lord desires to shape the hearts of fathers and mothers: hearts that are open, capable of great initiatives, generous in self-giving, compassionate in comforting anxieties and steadfast in strengthening hopes. The priesthood and the consecrated life greatly need these qualities nowadays, in times marked by fragility but also by the sufferings due to the pandemic, which has spawned uncertainties and fears about the future and the very meaning of life. Saint Joseph comes to meet us in his gentle way, as one of “the saints next door”. At the same time, his strong witness can guide us on the journey.”

(Pope Fracis: 58th World Day of Prayer for Vocations)

4. Reflection and Sharing

         Share about the teachings of Pope Francis contained in this “Josephite Spirituality Seeds.”

5. Commitment of the Month

         Interact with your Community and actively participate in the commemorations and celebrations of the Holy Spouses Joseph and Mary, which take place on January 23 of each year.

6. Final Prayer.