"A synodal Church that wants vocations has the duty to be welcoming to all members of society, but it cannot build its witness on sand, so it must rely on an anthropology firmly anchored in the Word of God."
This is the reflection that the Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops, delivered the day after the beginning of the first session of the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops being held in these weeks, of which he is a member by pontifical appointment.
The occasion is the next Congress on vocations organized for March 1 and 2 at the Vatican, on the theme: "Vocations". "Man-woman, image of God. For an anthropology of vocations", together with the Center for Research and Anthropology of Vocations (CRAV). This initiative is the natural continuation of the previous Symposium led by the Cardinal himself in February 2022 on the "Fundamental theology of the priesthood". The Acts of those days have just been published in two volumes in six languages, which Ouellet considers the "greatest update on the subject of the priesthood since the Second Vatican Council".
Anthropology and the Word of God
In an interview granted to Vatican News, the Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops underlines the urgency of a more active participation of the faithful in the life of the Church, in order to generate "a deeper ecclesial communion that has an impact on the mission", as the current Synod intends to reflect. But in order to reach this awareness, it is essential to cover the foundations of Christian anthropology "that allow all vocations to be built on the Word of God", especially taking into account the challenges posed by the contemporary world.
"The common experience of our secularized societies is loneliness, individualism, excessive consumerism, multiple addictions, suicides, etc.," Ouellet explains to Vatican News, "phenomena that find their roots in the crisis of the family, the disappearance of valid points of reference, globalized indifference, ideologies and the generalized crisis of hope."
Reasons to live
Therefore, all those opportunities that can provide "points of reference on the human vocation", together with reasons "to live and also to suffer at the service of Love", must be put back into action. "The Christian vision of man and woman thus promotes the gift of self as a path to happiness, self-realization in service and communion with others, in a horizon of solidarity and fraternity with all humanity," added the Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops.
The format of the days of reflection on vocation will be academic and scientific, with the presence of international scholars and experts, but they are open to everyone. Specifically, they aim to offer "a very current vision for educators and formators in all areas of Christian formation, including, of course, families".
They will take place in the Vatican Synod Hall. The previous Symposium on the priesthood was attended by some 700 people.
CRAV
The Center for Research and Anthropology of Vocations, independent of the Holy See, was founded in November 2020 by Cardinal Ouellet with the support of a strong international scientific council.
Its purpose is to promote and support any research action in social sciences on vocations within society in a broad sense and in all its branches, whether they are secular or religious institutions.
Located in France, the Research Center conducts international academic research activities, organizes events to nurture this research and to disseminate its results, train or even secure publications.
