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August 15, 2013 - Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Issue: 30
     
In This Issue
Live Out Your Apostolic Vocation
St. Joseph's College Online
Reflections of Mary
Catholic Apostolate Center Newsletter

From the Director's Desk

 

Fr. Frank

Growing up in a farming community in southern New Jersey (yes, New Jersey does have farms, that is why it is called the Garden State), I learned a little something about soil that is good for planting and soil that needs work, sometimes a great deal of work, until planting can happen.  Good soil does not just "happen".  There is preparation and proper nurturing, even times of rest so that the soil is best.  In his recent encyclical Lumen Fidei, Pope Francis talks about "good soil,"

 

"In the parable of the sower, Saint Luke has left us these words of the Lord about the 'good soil;' 'These are the ones who when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance' (Lk 8:15). In the context of Luke's Gospel, this mention of an honest and good heart which hears and keeps the word is an implicit portrayal of the faith of the Virgin Mary" (Lumen Fidei, n. 58).

 

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption, we are offered by the Church the great example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, ever-faithful disciple, who witnesses for us the way to live well our baptismal as disciples and  apostles of Christ.

 

"By her complete adherence to the Father's will, to his Son's redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church's model of faith and charity" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 967).

 

By witnessing faith and charity we live well our baptismal vocation. Our vocation as baptized is our primary vocation. All of the other vocations as married, single, consecrated, or priest are all secondary to this primary vocation as follower of (disciple) and sent by (apostle) Jesus Christ. Each is a way one can live out the primary vocation. How does one decide? Through a process of discernment, one is called to be informed, pray, make a choice, and take action. I make it seem easy. The process is not an easy one, but like making "good soil," it is necessary in order to make a truly informed choice about how to live our vocation as a disciple and apostle. You might not be ready to make a choice about what way to live this vocation for life, or maybe you have done so already, but living it out as a disciple and apostle is what all of us are called to do.   The Blessed Virgin Mary can assist us in our discernment of our apostolic vocation in life and in living it out faithfully and well, truly being "good soil". 

 

In God, the Infinite Love,

 

Fr. Frank

 10 Ways to Live Well the Year of Faith!
In recognition of this Year of Faith, in each successive newsletter we'll be sharing with you a few additional suggestions and ways in which you can "Live Well the Year of Faith"! For archived editions of this newsletter click hereWe welcome your questions, comments and additional suggestions of ways that you have found helpful too! 

 

 8. Discern Ways to More Fully Live Out your Apostolic Vocation

 

"For in truth we are not called once only, but many times; 

all through our life Christ is calling us. 

He called us first in Baptism; but afterwards also; whether we obey His voice or not, He graciously calls us still...He calls us again and again, in order to justify us again and again, and again and again, and more, to sanctify and glorify us."

-Blessed John Henry Newman

 

Through our baptism we are called to live out the particular Apostolic Vocation that God desires for each of us. However, as Fr. Frank mentions in his note above, this is often much more easily said than done! Sometimes we may find ourselves asking, "What if I make a mistake?" or "What if I'm not following the Vocation God has planned for me?" This is one reason why we share the quote above from Bl. John Newman. This serves as a reminder that even when we may not be following God's will, he does not abandon us nor will he cease continuing to call us closer to him. In fact, as many converts to the faith may attest (or those who have left the Church and returned), often what seems to be a "detour" on our path to follow our vocation actually helps us to more clearly hear God's voice.

 

Listed below is some reading and prayer material that we recommend to assist in seeking a greater understanding of your Apostolic Vocation. If you have other resources that you've found helpful give us a shout-out by e-mail or on our Facebook or Twitter page so we can share it with others too!

 

Collaborative Alliance with
Saint Joseph's College Online

The Catholic Apostolate Center and Saint Joseph's College Online have joined together in a cooperative alliance that provides educational benefits to individuals and organizations affiliated with the Catholic Apostolate Center. This includes waiver of application fee and a 10% tuition reduction. The Catholic Apostolate Center and Saint Joseph's College Online are working to identify educational needs both online and in the Mid-Atlantic region.
 



Reflections of Mary

Over the past couple of weeks leading up to today's Feast of the Assumption, Cardinal Donal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington D.C. developed a three-part series of reflections on Mary's role in the Church. In each reflection posted on his blog, Cardinal Wuerl discusses how each of us can look to the Virgin Mother and follow her example as an apostle. The first reflection focuses on Mary as "Star of Evangelization" in which the Cardinal notes her deep and lively faith as the mark of a true evangelizer. Moving forward he notes how she helps to bring others closer to Christ and in the last reflection Cardinal Wuerl identifies her commitment to building up the Kingdom of God as the Mother of the Church.

 

Check out each of Cardinal Wuerl's reflections at the links below:

Wisdom from the Saints 

 

 "As [Mary's] children, we please her by striving to become similar to her Son and our firstborn brother, Jesus."

 

-St. Vincent Pallotti

 

 
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Catholic Apostolate Center
A Ministry of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines)