Following is the message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 2020 World Day of Vocations, MARCH 24, 2020:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On 4 August last year, the 160th anniversary of the death of the Curé of Ars, I chose to write a letter to all those priests who daily devote their lives to the service of God’s people in response to the Lord’s call.
March 24, the day in which Mgr. Oscar Arnulfo Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador was assassinated in 1980, was chosen 28 years ago by the then Missionary Youth Movement of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Italy to celebrate annually the "Day of prayer and fasting in memory of the missionary martyrs".
The Archbishop, assassinated while celebrating Mass, was beatified on May 23, 2015 and canonized by Pope Francis on October 14, 2018.
Fr. Antony Kadavil reflects and comments on the readings at Mass for the fourth Sunday in Lent. He says that today’s readings both remind us that it is God who gives us proper vision in body as well as in soul and instruct us that we should be constantly on our guard against spiritual blindness.
I Sam 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Eph 5:8-14; Jn 9:1-41
In his first Lenten Sermon, the Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap., reflects on the kenosis - or self-emptying - of Mary, the Mother of God. The full text of his sermon follows:
“O WOMAN, WHAT HAVE YOU TO DO WITH ME?”
The Kenosis of the Mother of God
First Sermon, Lent 2020
In our Lenten meditations we continue our journey in the footsteps of Mary that we initiated last Advent. This will be a way to put ourselves under the protection of the Virgin in a time of so severe test for all humanity due to the coronavirus pandemic.
During the 1576 plague that menaced the northern Italian city of Milan and eventually took 25,000 lives, the civil government fled the city out of fear. The archbishop of Milan, St. Charles Borromeo, took over, assured the people he would not abandon them and, together with priests from the parishes and religious orders, began to care for their material and spiritual needs.
Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus.” ―Matthew 1:20–21a
In the course of just a few days, major events, gatherings, and meetings have suspended or canceled their dates. It’s everywhere as the potential of COVID19 is snapping the world to attention.
No one really knows how bad it will be with estimates ranging from tens of thousands to millions impacted. Fear reigns.
And now we are seeing the fear hit churches across the world.
With the current pandemic of the COVID-19 throughout the world, we have an opportunity to unite as a human family, serve those in need, and ask some broad spiritual questions.
Such questions include: Why do such viruses occur? Why does God allow such harmful things?
The speed with which coronavirus protocols had to be implemented late last week led to an understandable — and unavoidable — confusion. That confusion even hit the highest levels of the Church in Rome, with two senior cardinals in a very public conflict. And Pope Francis himself got involved.
But now with a few days to reflect, some principles and practices are emerging.
Prayer Is Not Canceled but Continues
While public gathering for worship and prayer may be canceled, worship and prayer are not canceled. To the contrary, they should be intensified.
It’s only been three months since the origin of the coronavirus pandemic in Wuhan, China, and it’s only been a few weeks since what was originally perceived as largely a Chinese problem became a global phenomenon.
