National Vocations Awareness Week

is held this week in the United States: a time especially set aside for more focused prayer for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

May we all increase our efforts to help those whom the Lord is choosing to share His mission in this unique way, to discover and be faithful to their particular vocations in Christ.

The concept of vocation, of being called by Christ, was depicted most wonderfully by the great Italian painter Caravaggio in his "La Vocazione di San Matteo" which hangs in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.

Many of us can imagine ourselves in Matthew's place as he hears Christ calling him.

"Who? Me?"

(adapted from an earlier post and an announcement by the Diocese of Arlington)