Dear parishioners of Saint Patrick parish Community, in order for all to have a better knowledge of the Vocationist Fathers and Sisters, their spirituality and field of work, we are going to place in the bulletin on a weekly basis for a while the catechism of the Society of Divine Vocations (a.k.a -Vocationist Fathers)
Catechism of the Society of Divine Vocations – ( Chapter Seven )
61. What should then be the daily preoccupation of a Religious of Divine Union?
The daily preoccupation of a Religious of the Divine Union should be a continuous endeavor to derive from everything, from every circumstance, from every relation, as much profit as it is possible for the Divine Glory, and the pursuit of his own sanctification.
62. How can we express more clearly, in a concrete prayer form, what we mean by the words “derive as much profit as possible?”
Grant me, Lord, to know and please You ever more. Let me be united to You and posses You in this thing, in this circumstance, in this relation, etc.
63. This is valid for ourselves, however what should we do when our neighbor is involved?
When our neighbor is involved, our worry should also be to render an ever greater glory to the Lord in the personal sanctification of our brothers.
64. How can we express even more clearly our paramount concern for our neighbor?
Before a child as well as before an adult, before a rich as well as before a poor, before a healthy person as well as before a sick person, a soul will whisper, “Lord, let me help him to become a Saint”.
65. Should we find ourselves in the presence of our superior, either in authority, or in knowledge, or – as it often happens – in virtue, how will we manage to show our care?
Thinking and praying thus: “Lord, make him evermore holy, more united to you and lead him to help the souls to become increasingly saints, starting from myself”.
66. Do we really believe that these little prayers, however frequent, are sufficient to make a good Priest, a good Religious, a great Saint?
Prayer only is not sufficient, but it is the first and the most effective requirement: in order for a person to become a religious, for a chosen one to become a priest, and for a soul to rise to holiness, a host of other helps are needed.
67. If we wish to provide this multitude of helps to others, won’t we remain entangled in a multiplicity of activities, which will hinder our sanctification?
Precisely because a single person could never provide the multitude of helps required for neighbors, and so in order that his own sanctification many not be hindered by the multiplicity of his activities, we live in a Congregation.
68. In which ways does our Congregation provide this host of helps for others, and how does it rescue us form the distractive multiplicity of activities?
Our Congregation provides whatever necessary for the sanctification of its members and of the souls of our neighbors, through an accurate division of work and classification of workers.
69. In this division of work and classification of workers, which duty remains common to all, with respect to the Congregation?
Every worker of the Universal Sanctification, whatever will his specific task, is bound, before the Congregation, to provide through prayer the supernatural means for himself and all the others, and, through a profitable work, to provide the natural means of sustenance for himself and at least for one additional candidate.
70. How does our Congregation provide the host of workers required by the extensive work of universal sanctification?
Our Congregation provides the large number of workers needed for the Universal Sanctification through the Religious and LayAssociates, and expects that every Religious and Oblate gather, around themselves, a college of apostles and disciples, in conformity, – in this also –with the public life of the Lord.