AAS 80 - La Santa Sede

1754 Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale
As with the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Penánce calis for careful
catechesis. An evident appréciation of this sacrament on the part
of priests themselves will help the laity to realize the necessity and
value of individual confession and absolution for growth in holiness
and as the ordinary way by which a person who is aware of serious
sin is reconciled with God and with the Church. 11
7. I also wish to mention the link between the vitality of sacra­
mental practice and vocations to the priesthood and religious life,
which are so important for the future of your local Churches. God's
gift of priestly and religious vocations is mysteriously related to
the participation of the faithful in the Eucharistie Sacrifice with
révérence and with a worthiness conferred by the Sacrament of
Penance. As the chief source of pastoral charity, 12 the Eucharist not
only sustains priests and Religious in a life of faith and selfless love;
it also enkindles that pastoral charity in potential priests and Re­
ligious, so that they too may serve Christ and his Church in these
special vocations. Fostering love for the sacraments among the
young, especially love for the Eucharist, is an important part of
promoting vocations.
We must also pray, since what is at stake is not any human
project of our own, but rather the réalisation o f God's plan. 13, Düring
his earthly ministry, Jesus recognized that "the harvest is plentiful,
but the labourers are few". 14 He then revealed our serious responsi-
bility for overcoming the imbalance between the needs of God's people
and the number of apostolic labourers when he commanded us to
"pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into
his harvest". 15 Here too, the fefvour of our prayer for vocations is
intimately linked to our love and understanding of the sacraments.
At the same time the local Churches, as well as religious com­
munities, must be energetic in undertaking the research, planning
and Organization necessary for the promotion of vocations. The quality
and number of personnel and resources allotted to this work are not
only a measure of the priority given to this challenge, but also a
testimony to the firm conviction of the various diocèses and religious
11 Cf. C.I.C., 960.
12 Cf. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 14.
15 Cf. Congrégation for the Clergy, Postquam Apostoli, 25 March 1980.
14 Lk 10:2.
15 Ibid.