I looked at the black brief case on our dining room table. Eager to see what was inside, I unlatched the latches and opened it carefully. Carefully to see…nothing.
I looked up, surprised. This was the case that holds the Traveling Vocation Chalice—a ministry at my parish.
The main part of the ministry is that every week, a different family from our parish gets to take the vocation chalice, put it in their home, and specifically pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life at the parish, in our archdiocese, and throughout the whole world.
My mind raced with exaggerated conclusions. Someone stole the chalice! Maybe a family ran away with it? Did someone loose it?
I was about to go tell my dad the problem, when I looked behind me, and behold, the chalice was mounted around the top of a cabinet. I let out a sigh. It was here all along. My dad just got to the brief case first.
It really is a privilege to have the Vocation Chalice in our home. We ended up moving the chalice to a little table, put a cloth over it, put an array of dried lavender behind it, and added some tea lights.
Why a chalice? It is the Eucharistic dimension of vocations. The center of the priesthood and religious life is the Eucharist, which is held (depending on the priest/parish) in the chalice that holds the Precious Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is Jesus Himself, so it makes sense that a priest who gives his life for Jesus, would drink from the chalice Jesus gives him. Likewise, a religious or any consecrated, takes Jesus as beloved spouse, and so, also drinks from the chalice that is given.
Every day of the week has a different prayer for vocations for the family with the Chalice. For example, Thursday prayer (today, as I am writing, it is Thursday), includes additional intentions to pray for such as “That all ecclesial communities announce Jesus Christ the redeemer of humankind with renewed courage.”
And then, we get to pray these weekly prayers with the whole family. At twenty-seven, I sometimes feel too old to be living with my parents. But coming together as a family, with my parents and sisters, has been a great privilege to light the candles and pray with the Chalice.
Still, whether single, the parent of eight, or a priest or religious, I’d encourage anyone from our parish to take a week with the Chalice. Furthermore, I’d encourage anyone in our world to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Also, to pray for vocations to the permanent deaconate and consecrated life. Perhaps even at Holy Mass, when we see the Chalice that holds the Precious Blood, we can remember to pray for vocations.
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