By C. John McCloskey
Today the most effective and perhaps only way to encourage priestly vocations (apart from familial encouragement, and intense and persevering prayer, of course) will be the example and "personal influence," in the words of Cardinal Newman, of dedicated, zealous, pious, intelligent, well-formed priests: priests for the third millennium. These priests have to be the ones who will, through their preaching, direction, and pastoral focus, put into effect the magisterial teachings of Pope John Paul II in the decades ahead. Finally, it is in hands of the lord of history and his Holy Spirit. However, respecting the freedom that he has granted us, he does count on our collaboration.
