Saint John Paul II: “A greater amount of evangelical boldness is needed”
Message of his Holiness Pope John Paul II for the XXXIII World Day of Prayer for Vocations (1996)
Our communities, however, must have a stronger belief in the importance of various plans of Christian life and of ecclesial roles, ministries, charisms, which are stirred up by the Holy Spirit throughout the centuries and recognized by the Pastors of the Church as legitimate and authentic. Even now, while society is undergoing rapid and profound transformation, in the community of believers the proposal of the Christian way of life must conquer every kind of passive resignation, and with confidence and courage give full meaning to existence by announcing the presence and action of God in the life of human persons.
Today, in the face of the challenges of the contemporary world, a greater amount of evangelical boldness is needed in order to arrive at the commitment to promoting vocations in accordance with the Lord’s injunction to ask ceaselessly for laborers for the spread of the kingdom of God (cf. Mt 9:37-38).
…The Church must show its proper and authentic face in the daily striving for fidelity to God and to men. When it accomplishes such a mission with profound consistency, it becomes the favorable terrain for the birth of courageous choices of unreserved commitment for the Gospel and for the people of God.
Prayer to the Holy Name of Jesus
Let us ask God for the grace of an increase, perseverance, and holiness of vocations, so that the Name of Jesus may be known in all nations
O glorious Name, gifted Name, loving and holy Name!
Through you faults are erased, enemies flee defeated, the sick are healed, the troubled and those tempted are strengthened, and all feel joyful.
You are the honor of believers, You, the teacher of preachers, You, the strength of those who labor, You, the courage of the weak.
By the fire of your ardor and zeal, spirits are inflamed, desires grow, favors are obtained, contemplative souls are enraptured; by you all the blessed in Heaven are glorified.
Grant, most sweet Jesus, that we too may reign with them by the power of your most holy Name.
St. Bernardine of Siena
It is necessary that the name of Jesus be preached
The name of Jesus is the glory of preachers
The name of Jesus is the glory of preachers, because the shining splendor of that name causes his word to be proclaimed and heard. And how do you think such an immense, sudden and dazzling light of faith came into the world, if not because [the name of] Jesus was preached? Was it not through the brilliance and sweet savor of this name that God called us into his marvelous light? When we have been enlightened, and in that same light behold the light of heaven, rightly may the apostle Paul say to us: Once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
So, this name must be proclaimed, that it may shine out and never be suppressed. But it must not be preached by someone with sullied mind or unclean lips, but stored up and poured out from a chosen vessel.
That is why our Lord said of Saint Paul: He is a chosen instrument of mine, the vessel of my choice, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel. In this chosen vessel there was to be a drink more pleasing than earth ever knew, offered to all mankind for a price they could pay, so that they would be drawn to taste of it. Poured into other chosen vessels, it would grow and radiate splendor. For our Lord said: He is to Carry my name.
For, as when a fire is lit to clear a field, it burns off all the dry and useless weeds and thorns and as when the sun rises and darkness is dispelled, robbers, night-prowlers and burglars hide away, so when Paul’s voice was raised to preach the Gospel to the nations, it was like the roar of thunder in the sky or like the sun shining more brightly, and unbelief was consumed, and truth shone forth and error disappeared like wax melting in the fire.
Paul spoke of the name of Jesus in his letters, in his miracles, and in examples. He praised and blessed the name of Jesus.
The Apostle did indeed carry this name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel as a light to enlighten all nations. And this was his cry wherever he journeyed: The night is passing away, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves honorably as in the day. Paul himself showed forth the burning and shining light set upon a candlestick, everywhere proclaiming Jesus, and him crucified.
And so the Church, the bride of Christ strengthened by his testimony, rejoices with the psalmist, singing: 0 God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. The psalmist exhorts her to do this, as he says: Sing to the Lord, and bless his name, proclaim his salvation day after day, that is, Jesus, the Savior whom He has sent.
Saint Bernardine of Siena, Sermon 49, on the glorious name of Jesus Christ (Ch 4: Opera omnia 4, 505-506)