Each of Us is Called

As Catholics, each of us is called to a personal relationship with Jesus.  It is within this relationship that we embrace the invitation to enter into an ever deepening faith which results in a passionate desire to follow Christ and discern what God might be asking of us.

As disciples of Jesus, it is normal for us to want to share with others our experience of following Christ and enkindle within them a love for Jesus.

Additionally, since we are “created in the image and likeness of God” each of us has rich spiritual qualities that can touch the hearts of others.

Christ’s call to follow him is not reserved for priest and religious.  Christ’s call to “follow me” was directed towards everyone – including lay members of the Church.

Yet, what does “the call” look like for a lay person?

Using our Skills and Talents . . . 

St. Vincent Pallotti encouraged all of his followers to take their skills and talents and use them to spread the Gospel message.  If you were given the gift of healing, then heal.  If you were given the gift of speech, then preach; the gift to teach, then teach; the gift of collaboration, then collaborate with others; the gift to lead, then be a leader and so on.  This is what is meant by participating in the universal apostolate.

Examples from our order’s earliest beginning, include:

Giacomo Salvati had a key role in helping the St. Vincent’s society succeed.  He had the gift of talking to people and raising money.  It was through this talent that St. Vincent was able to send religious articles to the missions and provide financial support for the works of the Society.

Blessed Elisabeth Sanna was a refugee who lacked education and had a physical handicap.  She claimed that her only talents were sewing, cleaning and prayer.  St. Vincent told her to use these skills to spread the Gospel.  She was one of his most faithful followers and promoters dividing her time between works of charity and winning favors for herself and others through her prayers.

Fr. Raphael Melia had the gift of preaching and the desire to be a missionary.  With St. Vincent’s encouragement he left Rome in order to preach the Word to migrants in England.  Through this ministry he spread the Society beyond the border of Rome.

Scripture also speaks to this in the following quote:

We have gifts that differ according to the favor bestowed on each of us. One’s gift may be prophecy; its use should be in proportion to his faith.  It may be the gift of ministry; it should be used for service.  One who is a teacher should use his gift for teaching; one with the power of exhortation should exhort.  He who gives alms should do so generously; he who rules should exercise his authority with care; he who performs works of mercy should do so cheerfully.

Romans 12: 6-8

. . . in Jesus’ Name Spread the Gospel 

Yet using our gifts and talents for the service of others is only one part of the equation.  The second part of this equation is living our lives of service with the intention of serving Christ and spreading the Gospel message.

Living with intention is about cultivating the presence of Christ in everything we do – allowing the Spirit to move in, through and about us so we can serve Jesus as apostles of Christ.

Additionally, when we live with the intention of serving in the name of Jesus, the receivers of our services receives so much more than just having their physical or emotional needs met; they also are spiritually fed through the Spirit that is moving through us – the apostles.

Lastly, when we use our gifts and talents in Christ’s name “… we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)  Hence, Christ becomes the focal point, not the talents we were gifted to use for service.

Yet, before we can be true messengers of the gospel, we must first equip ourselves with the appropriate tools for this job – with the most important tool being prayer.

Fortified with Prayer

“. . .to pray means to direct the mind and heart to constant remembrance of God, to walk in His Divine Presence, to rouse in oneself the love of God . . .”

Prayer is the sacred space where our soul is aroused with the thirst and longing to know more deeply the Mystery of God.

Prayer is the sacred space where our soul opens itself to God’s love and His infinite love for mankind.

Prayer is the sacred space where our soul receives spiritual enlightenments and grows in conviction of God’s infinite mercy.

Prayer is the sacred space where our hearts are purified and transformed into our true selves – the image and likeness of God.

Essentially, prayer is the essence of Christian Life.  It is the first step towards living the life of an apostle of Christ.

You are Needed – Join the Ranks of the Apostles

Each of us is called to love Christ, ourselves and our neighbors.  Right now, more than anything, our world and our Church are in need of a rekindling of love.  So,

1. Use your gifts and talent to serve others
2. Serve in Jesus’ name
3. Pray