Pope asks prayers for vocations, holiness for those already 'called'

Published: 2003-12-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II has asked Catholics to pray not only for new vocations to the priesthood and religious life, but for the strength, holiness and fidelity of those who already have answered God's call. "Our first obligation is to pray to the 'master of the harvest' for those who already closely follow Christ in priestly and religious life," the pope said in his annual message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. "It is indispensable to pray that the 'called' remain faithful to their vocations and reach the highest possible degree of evangelical perfection," Pope John Paul said in the message released Dec. 5 at the Vatican. The message, initially available only in Italian, is sent to bishops all over the world. In 2004, most dioceses will mark the vocations' prayer day May 2, the fourth Sunday of Easter.

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