The Pope Video: May - For the formation of men and women religious, and seminarians

In his prayer intention this month, Pope Francis asks us to pray for men and women religious, and seminarians. "Every vocation," he reminds us, "is like a 'diamond in the rough' that needs to be polished," through a journey of ongoing growth, for "formation does not end at a certain moment, but continues throughout life."

The Pope Video, produced by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, helps us reflect on many aspects of his message - the importance of communitarian life, prayer, dedication to bearing witness to the Gospel, closeness to the lives of others.

All these things are learned through an integral formation that begins "in the seminary and the novitiate, in direct contact with the lives of other people."

Let us together pray "that men and women religious, and seminarians, grow in their own vocational journey through human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation." "Every vocation is a "diamond in the rough" that needs to be polished, worked, shaped on every side.

A good priest, sister or nun, must above all else be a man, a woman who is formed, shaped by the Lord's grace, people who are aware of their own limitations, and willing to lead a life of prayer, of dedicated witness to the Gospel. Beginning in the seminary and the novitiate, their preparation must be developed integrally, in direct contact with the lives of other people. This is essential.

Formation does not end at a certain moment, but continues throughout life, integrating the person intellectually, humanly, affectively, spiritually. There's also preparation to live in community - life in community is so enriching, even though it can be difficult at times.

Living together is not the same as living in community. Let us pray that men and women religious, and seminarians, grow in their own vocational journey through human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, that leads them to be credible witnesses of the Gospel."

"Every vocation," he reminds us, "is like a 'diamond in the rough' that needs to be polished," through a journey of ongoing growth, for "formation does not end at a certain moment, but continues throughout life."

Watch Pope Francis' Message here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixn0OUw2p1I