12 October 1984 Cagliari, Sardinia

My dear Confreres, Sisters and Friends in Jesus Christ,

If you asked St. Paul to write down the names of the people who influenced him most in his life, there is little or no doubt that, after Jesus Christ, he would write down the name of Abraham. Not only was Abraham a hero, but he was looked upon as the founder of the nation. We can be certain, too, that in the little home of Nazareth, Mary and Joseph often spoke to the Child Jesus about Abraham who was,not only the founder of their nation, but more than that, a man of faith and obedience. Religious Communities look back to their founders and admire them. The little family community of Nazareth looked back to Abraham and admired him for many things, but principally for his faith and obedience. In his writings Paul constantly asked Christians of his day to imitate the faith of Abraham, as he did in the second reading to which we have listened this evening.

Abraham's faith was tested when God said to him: "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to a land that I will show you." (Gen 12:1). The invitation which God gave to Abraham has been uttered by Him over and over again. When Jesus Christ called the twelve Apostles to leave all things and follow Him, He was speaking as God spoke to Abraham. It was that same call which fifty years ago this month was heard by the three men we are honoring in a special way this evening, Father Eugenio Pomatto, Father Giovanni Cau and Brother Luigi Ursic. Rejoice with them that they listened to the call of Jesus Christ: that they left their families and entered the Congregation of the Mission; that they allowed themselves to be led by God into those places and into that work which He appointed them to do. Two of them, Father Pomatto and Brother Ursic, dedicated many years to the life of the College, while Father Cau was called to devote many years of his life to the preaching of missions. We rejoice with them and we thank God for what He has given to them through St. Vincent's Congregation. We pray God that He will give them much peace tonight and during whatever span of years are left to each of them. May they continue to walk in faith until their faith gives way to vision and they enjoy the fullness of light, happiness and peace in seeing God face to face in Heaven.

"Those who believe," writes St. Paul in the first sentence of this evening's reading, "are sons of Abraham." (Gal 3:7). Yes, we are all spiritual children of Abraham. It was Abraham's faith that enabled him to venture out into the unknown. It must not have been easy for him to leave the security of his home and family and set out for a land about which he knew nothing. We have a natural fear of the unknown. We seek for security in our homes, in employment, in life and in health. The truth is that everyone who accepts a vocation to be a priest or brother or sister, is venturing out into the unknown. When St. Vincent de Paul was writing to one of the first priests he was sending to the mission of Madagascar, he said: "You will need generosity and sublime courage. You also need faith as great as Abraham's and the charity of St. Paul." (Coste III, Eng. ed., ltr. 1020, p. 279).

Such qualities are still required of those whom God calls to the priestly or religious life. To those whom He calls, God gives these qualities, but like the seed of wheat in the ground, they are not always visible to us immediately. It is time and the sunshine of grace that makes them sprout and grow.

To the young men and girls who may be listening to me and who may feel some stirrings of a religious vocation, I say: Do not think that you don't have the qualities of generosity, faith and love about which St. Vincent speaks. Very likely Abraham did not realize the strength of his faith and the extent of his generosity, until he had left his father's house. So it is with us today. It is only when we have made the first sacrifice of offering our lives to God that He will cause our faith and generosity and love to grow and fit us for the tasks that a priestly or religious vocation demands.

It was along the two great highways of faith and charity that St. Vincent led St. Louise to the heights of sanctity. He first taught her to have faith in the Providence of God Who could provide much better for her son, Michel, than she could. Then he taught her how to cast out her fears for the future by caring for the sick poor.

It is along those two roads also that St. Vincent would like to lead us to God, as he has already done with so many Missionaries and Daughters of Charity. In these days when so many things seem uncertain and so many dangers threaten our little, fragile lives, when we have so many fears in our hearts, St. Vincent would say to us: "Have faith in the living God. Live one day at a time. God will provide." At the same time St. Vincent would urge us as individuals and as Communities to go out and to help the poor in a simple, humble way. Firm faith in God's Providence, and humble helping of those who are in greater need than ourselves, are the most certain means we have of casting out fear from our hearts, of increasing our faith, and of making room for the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding.