How to encourage vocations: Let the children come to me!

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You can get Mass kits like this here. [Note to the IRS: this is free advertizing!]

From a great friend:

I gave my [...] nephews a miniature set of realistic traditional brass altar ware, thurible w/ real charcoal [!], linens, and a monstrance from a homeschool website.  They are [name] age 2 [!] and [name] age 4 [!].

From her sister-in-law:

“So, with the use of the Mass kit, [name] has been making priestly gestures, distributing the “Body of Christ” (in a whisper, mind you) to which we must say “Amen” and the other day I watched him as he circled our piano stool altar swinging the thurible. [name] has also got the 3 bells at the elevation down pat. Now, if I could just get them to stop fighting about who is the priest… at least they don’t have any illusions about [the neice]. Ha!”

“Candlesticks are cute!! [name] loves lighting the candles we have, then using the snuffer on them and then doing it all over again. Pyromaniac in the making…”

4 Comments

Filed under Vocations

4 Responses to How to encourage vocations: Let the children come to me!

  1. As a child, I remember how much I loved to serve at the altar as an altar boy. The cassocks for altar boys were far bigger than my size, and my Mom sacrificed by buying me a cassock of my size. I thank her for this act, because it was an encouragement in my vocation.

    During these days, families are urged to nurture the faith of their children to prepare them to respond to whatever God’s call is for them. Catholic families need to take time to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life; to reflect on their own vocation and strengthen their personal relationship with Christ; and to educate young people about the importance of silent prayer and taking the time to truly listen to God’s voice in our hearts.

    Today’s Gospel (Matthew 8:18-22) seems to talk about vocations, and as soon as we hear that word “vocations” we too often think strictly in terms of a call to the priesthood or to religious life. I believe that what Christ is speaking of here is far more open than that: I think that He is asking each of us to follow Him and His Spirit without any hope of earthly rest or reward and wherever the Holy Three might think it best to lead us in our quest for God, in our desire to know, love, and serve Him. That call is for all of us, not just for some chosen elite or especially gifted group.

  2. Don’t worry Steven. NO ONE is elite!

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