Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles said this week that Catholics
need to encourage vocations to the priesthood especially in their home
life.
“In this Year of Faith, we need to refocus ourselves, especially in our
families, on helping men to hear this beautiful and noble calling from
Jesus...the family is always the 'first seminary,'” he wrote in his Nov.
16 column for The Tidings.
The archbishop's reflections were marked by the U.S. bishops' annual
fall assembly last week and by his own pastoral letter of last month,
“Witness to the New World of Faith.”
Since the family is the “domestic Church,” Archbishop Gomez said that
is where children first learn about the Holy Family and Christ's
commandment of love. Children learn from their parents the habit of
going to Mass and confession regularly.
“Ordinary family life teaches them that their faith should make a difference in how they live.”
Archbishop Gomez encouraged his parishioners to use daily family prayer
to pray for priests and seminarians, thus teaching their children the
beauty and value of the ordained priesthood.
He also called for practical measures of appreciation for priests,
suggesting inviting priests over to spend time with one's family and
thanking them after Mass for the gift of the Eucharist.
In turn, he urged priests to be good examples who will encourage young men to follow in their footsteps.
“The greatest thing a priest can do is to simply live his vocation with
enthusiasm. The example of happy priests, who have strong friendships
with their brother priests and good relationships with their
parishioners – this is immensely inspiring and attractive.”
Archbishop Gomez also reflected on the noise of modern culture, which
he said can keep young people from hearing God's call to a religious or
priestly vocation.
“We need to help our children develop habits of prayer and meditation.
And this begins by simply getting them to be comfortable without
distractions, so they can listen to the silent voice of God in their
hearts.”
“So maybe in this Year of Faith, we can ask our children to make some
time each day to turn off their smart phones and their electronic games
and devices. To just be quiet with God.”
The archbishop concluded by promoting Eucharistic adoration and by looking forward to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.
“Through our Blessed Mother Mary, let’s remember to give thanks for our
priests – who bring us the most beautiful thanksgiving of all, the holy
Eucharist.”