PREFACE
In his 1996 Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, Pope John Paul II writes:
The invitation of Jesus, “Come and see” (Jn 1:39), is the golden rule of pastoral work for promoting vocations even today. (no. 64)
“He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.” (John 1:39)
This passage expresses so well the responsibility all believers have in promoting the gift of priesthood, religious life and other vocations to the consecrated life. The Church cannot survive without the witness of priests, religious and other consecrated persons. Unfortunately, many of us seem to have forgotten this “golden rule” and rely too much on ourselves and modern marketing methods to attract vocations.
For the Church to be faithful to the mission entrusted to her by the Lord, we must simply encourage young men and women to slow down, take stock and step away from the clutter and busy-ness of contemporary life, all so as to adequately hear the invitation of Jesus to serve Him. While vocation strategies and efforts have their rightful place, nothing can substitute for listening to the Lord in the silence of our own hearts. It is only here that we can know with conviction and certitude that Christ indeed is calling us to follow Him with an undivided heart.
In these twelve short meditations written by Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J., we are given wonderful theological reflections that get right to the heart of the matter regarding the present vocations crisis. They are straightforward and to the point, just like Christ’s age-old invitation to “come and see.” Those who read them will be truly inspired.
I encourage all to read these meditations prayerfully, especially in the presence of the Holy Eucharist. For in times of great crisis and suffering, Catholics must turn to prayer before the Most Blessed Sacrament. In prayer before Our Eucharistic Lord, we are able directly to place into the Heart of the Lord of the Harvest all our fervent prayers and petitions. With faith we must believe that Christ will indeed listen to our heartfelt supplications and send out more laborers to serve as holy priests, religious and consecrated persons.
May this booklet, COME & SEE, teach us once again the “golden rule” for promoting vocations. May the Holy Spirit lead many young men and women to read it who may be discerning their own vocations and confirm that call by which Christ is leading them.
+ Most Rev. Thomas G. Doran
Bishop of Rockford, Illinois
INTRODUCTION
Christ is the ideal of the priest and religious. He is the One who calls; He is the One who gives the vocation to the priest and religious. I had the honor of working with Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J. for nearly thirty years. Father Hardon was truly an Alter Christus and every word he spoke and each line he wrote reflected his intimate union with Christ. This will become apparent as you read COME & SEE. These insightful, courageous, and deeply spiritual essays on the priesthood and consecrated life mirror the love Father Hardon had for the Church and vocations. He exhausted himself in serving Christ in an age of crisis. He promoted, cultivated and saved many vocations and various communities. These theological reflections really come from the tabernacle, for most of Father’s talks and works were conceived and written before the Most Blessed Sacrament.
As advisor to Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Father Hardon had many meetings with this saintly religious and brought her to the INSTITUTE FOR RELIGIOUS LIFE (IRL) on many occasions. Mother often talked on the joy of belonging to Jesus as a religious or priest. She stressed the necessity of community life in an age where religious were leaving communities and becoming individual contractors in a secular environment. At one of the IRL meetings Mother said, “The Church has entrusted us with the great apostolate to bring Christ into the hearts of our people. We must give Jesus to them. But unless we have Jesus, we cannot give Him. That is why we need the Eucharist. Our life is difficult; only the Eucharist, only Jesus can give us the joy of doing the work with a smile.” You will see Jesus in Father Hardon’s reflections for he had Jesus to give and was inspired by Him before the tabernacle. Like his dear friend Blessed Mother Teresa, he worked tirelessly for Jesus and his Church in promoting vocations. I can testify that Father Hardon never wasted a minute. At an IRL board meeting our first president, Bishop James Hogan, told him: “John it is not a sin to take a day off!” Father Hardon replied with his impish grin, “Well Bishop, maybe not a mortal sin but . . . .” The joy of belonging to and working for Jesus was evident on his face. You, dear reader, will see the face of Christ in Father Hardon’s words and the joy he had in serving His Church.
Every vocation director and indeed every Catholic who wishes to see Christ’s vineyard filled with workers ought to meditate prayerfully on these reflections daily. Father Hardon founded the IRL precisely for this purpose: to cultivate and promote vocations so that God would be praised and His people served.
May Mary, Mother of the Church and Vocations, intercede for the Church and for all priestly, religious and consecrated vocations. We pray that she will also intercede in heaven so that Father Hardon will be finally raised to the altar of the Church for he was truly a saintly priest and dedicated religious in an age of crisis.
Rev. Edmund F. McCaffrey, Ph.D.
Former Abbot Ordinary of Belmont
