Pope Prays That Faithful Will Respond to Call to Holiness

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 2, 2004 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II's prayer intentions for November are that the faithful will respond to the call to holiness.

This is the general and missionary intention published by the Apostleship of Prayer, which the Pope makes his own every month, offering his sacrifices and prayers together with thousands of faithful worldwide.

The general intention for which the Holy Father is praying this month is that Christians will respond with generosity to the divine call and progress in holiness in their environment.

In addition, the Pope is praying "that all those who work in the missions will never forget that personal holiness and intimate union with Christ are the source of the efficacy of evangelization," the missionary intention states.

Cardinal Bernardin Gantin commented to the Fides agency about on the Pope's missionary intention.

The "Christian, 'charged with the mission,' … who has received the command to proclaim the Gospel, cannot forget that life bears fruit only if it is attached to Christ, like a branch to the vine," the cardinal explained.

"Personal holiness is an inward effort renewed day after day by God's grace to keep always intimately bound to Christ," he said.

And the "spirit of Christ is a spirit of fidelity, love in perfect obedience to the Father and, therefore, to duties as a baptized Christian, a consecrated person, a missionary at the service of the Gospel," the cardinal added.