To Priests, Men and Women Religious (9 September 1984)

On Sunday, 9 September 1984, the Holy Father addressed priests and religious, men and women, in the Chapel of the Seminary of Quebec. He described the essence of their vocation –  "the gift of self in consecrated celibacy, the life of prayer and active charity [as] signs for all."

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On this first day of my pilgrimage, I am happy to have been able to venerate the tomb of Blessed François de Laval, first bishop of Quebec and all of North America, whom I had the joy of beatifying in 1980 with Marie de l'Incarnation and Kateri Tekakwitha.

In 1639, François de Laval joined a nascent Church, the fruit of the courageous action of priests, monks and nuns, bearers of the Gospel in this land. Apostolic vicar, he contributed, without sparing his efforts, to gathering the first converted inhabitants with the Christian settlers in the unity of what would soon be a diocese, while personally participating in the missionary action and taking his part in the trials of the pioneers.

In France, he had experienced the vitality of a Christianity that was being renewed under the impetus of many founders and remarkable spiritual leaders whose sense of God and charity he shared. He wanted to firmly establish the Church in this new country in communion with the Bishop of Rome. And one of his most significant works was the founding of the major seminary and the minor seminary where we are, to make possible the rapid development of the Quebec clergy.

With you, I would like to give thanks for the gift of God which was manifested on this earth particularly through the holiness of this first bishop as well as of all the founders.

I am thinking especially of the religious communities whose missionary zeal has produced so many fruits of holiness: the Jesuits, the Recollects, the Ursulines, the Augustinian Hospitallers of Mercy were among the first to come from France to North America. Soon the Sulpicians would join them with many others. Then many institutes would be born, witnesses to the blossoming of a generous ecclesial community.

Dear religious men and women gathered in this chapel, let us praise the Lord for all that he has given your predecessors to accomplish.

And now I would like to tell you, and I will do so again elsewhere during my journey, that the Church is counting firmly on your action and your witness. Your role has undoubtedly changed in recent years, but the essence of your particular vocation remains: the gift of self in consecrated celibacy, the life of prayer and active charity are signs for all. The concrete services that you provide are irreplaceable, in pastoral work, in the various instances of training young people and adults, in helping the most disadvantaged in particular. I pray to God that he will call enough young people to join you generously so that your missions may be continued and constantly renewed.

Allow me to extend a particularly cordial greeting to the priests who are in charge of the seminaries of Quebec and to express to them my confidence and my wishes for the essential tasks that they have to assume.

Very cordially I impart to you all the Apostolic Blessing.

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