Prayers for Vocations

PRAYER OF POPE JOHN PAUL II:  

 

Oh Jesus, our Good Shepherd, bless all our parishes with numerous priests, deacons, men and women in religious life, consecrated laity and missionaries, according to the needs of the entire world, which You love and wish to save. We especially entrust our community to You; grant us the spirit of the first Christians, so that we may be a cenacle of prayer, in loving acceptance of the Holy Spirit and His gifts. Assist our pastors and all who live a consecrated life. Guide the steps of those who have responded generously to Your call and are preparing to receive holy orders or to profess the evangelical counsels. Look with love on so many well-disposed young people and call them to follow You. Help them to understand that in You alone can they attain to complete fulfillment. To this end we call on the powerful intercession of Mary, Mother and Model of all vocations. We beseech You to sustain our faith with the certainty that the Father will grant what You have commanded us to ask. Amen    

PRAYERS FOR DISCERNMENT:  

     
1. Dear Father, Shine your light upon me so that I may see my true vocation. Give me the grace to hear your word and be an example to others of your love for us. I pray for all in the priesthood, consecrated life, in marriage and the single life, and for all who are listening to your call, that they may answer you in their vocation. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus, Lord of the Harvest, and help me to follow His example. May I freely, courageously and lovingly respond.
   Amen.
    
2. Lord, I thank you for the gifts you have given me, especially for life, love, family and friends. Help me to know myself better and to know my talents, as I pray, study and decide on my life's work. Help me to see and understand the path you open for me. Help me choose a life's work which will be in response to my potential and your love for me. If I am being invited to follow you as a priest, deacon, as a religious sister or brother, give me a generous heart to respond to your challenging call and the strength to follow you wherever you lead me.
   Amen    
     
3. God, I know you love me and have great plans for me. But sometimes I am overwhelmed by the thought of my future. Show me how to walk forward one day at a time. May I take heart while I search openly, learn about all the choices, listen to others for advice, and pay attention to my own feelings. By doing these things, may I hear your call to a lifestyle and a career that will let me love as only I can, and let me serve others with the special gifts that you have given me.
   Amen.

Prayer for Vocations

   

Lord God, you call us to new life through baptism, which challenges us to dedicate our lives to you in humble service.   Give all those who are baptized the faith and courage to respond to this challenge and to listen to your call. Call forth men and women to live out a vocation of Christian charity in marriage or the single life. Call forth many people to serve you and your Church as lay ministers and missionaries, as religious, deacons and priests.  Call forth in a special way candidates for the priesthood who will celebrate the Eucharist and be loving pastors for your people. Deepen the commitment of all of us to be faithful to your grace always and to do your holy will through Christ, Our Lord. Amen. 

O Lord Jesus Christ, you call each of us by name and ask us to follow you. Bless you Church by raising up dedicated and generous men and women from our families and parishes who will serve your people as priests and deacons, as religious sisters and brothers. Open the hearts and minds of those you have called, so that a new flowering of religious vocations may show forth the fidelity of your love and make you known as the light of the world and the hope of eternal life. Amen. 

Prayer to know one's Vocation

Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you; I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures, I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into you hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord; and so I need to give myself to you, surrender myself into your hands without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my God. Amen. (Brother Charles de Foucould)

O Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you”, I believe with all my heart that you have planned that I should live my life with you and in you. Help me live by that faith, so that I may never seek any vocation but my true one, nor ever doubt that by your help I shall find it. For my part, I promise that on the day when I learn your holy will, I will choose it and be faithful to it forever. Amen.