Prayers for Vocations
St. John Paul II
Lord Jesus, as You once called the first disciples to make them fishers of men,
let Your sweet invitation continue to resound: Come, follow Me!
Give young men and women the grace of responding quickly to Your voice.
Support our bishops, priests, and consecrated people in their apostolic labor.
Grant perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are carrying out the ideal of a life totally consecrated to Your service.
Mary, Mother of the Church,
the model of every vocation,
help us to say “Yes” to the Lord Who calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation.
Amen.
Pope Benedict XVI
O Father, raise up among Christians abundant and holy vocations to the priesthood, who keep the faith alive and guard the blessed memory of your Son Jesus through the preaching of his word and the administration of the Sacraments, with which you continually renew your faithful.
Grant us holy ministers of your altar, who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist, the sacrament of the supreme gift of Christ for the redemption of the world.
Call ministers of your mercy, who, through the sacrament of Reconciliation, spread the joy of your forgiveness.
Grant, O Father, that the Church may welcome with joy the numerous inspirations of the Spirit of your Son and, docile to His teachings, may she care for vocations to the ministerial priesthood and to the consecrated life.
Sustain the Bishops, priests and deacons, consecrated men and women, and all the baptized in Christ, so that they may faithfully fulfill their mission at the service of the Gospel.
This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. - Archbishop of Chicago
Almighty and ever-living God, you govern the universe in your providence and you govern the Church as your family.
Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Lord,
shares his headship of the Church with those whom he calls to ordained priesthood.
Do not leave your people without pastors who make visible the presence and love of the Good Shepherd.
Call those whom you have chosen and give them the grace to hear the call and cooperate with it.
Enlighten all the baptized to discern and support the call to priesthood among those who are prepared to leave all for the sake of the Lord and his Church.
Give us joy in our gratitude for our salvation and help us all to live in unity of mind and heart,
so that the world may believe that Jesus is Lord, now and forever. Amen.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan - Archbishop of New York
Lord Jesus,
you promised to send the Holy Spirit,
and you kept your promise that first Pentecost! Thank you!
We believe the Holy Spirit continues to live within our hearts,
prompting us to follow you faithfully.
May your Holy Spirit inspire vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life as sisters and brothers, deacons, and in lifelong, loving, faithful, life-giving sacramental marriage.
Give us the priests we need to carry on your mission of preaching, serving, and sanctifying.
We count on the intercession of your Mother and ours, who was with your apostles that first Pentecost.
You are Christ our Lord. Amen.
Most Rev. Jaime Soto - Bishop of Sacramento, California
Come, Holy Spirit.
Inflame the hearts of all the faithful with a restless zeal for a new evangelization.
Embolden those anointed with your grace to proclaim the Gospel to people of every language, culture, and way of life.
Make our youth eager to hear the voice of the Shepherd tenderly calling them to furrow the world with faith, plant it with charity, and harvest it with hope.
We make this prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus, who shared your many gifts with us.
May you dwell with us always until we come to dwell with you, our Advocate, with Christ, our Savior, and with the Father, forever. Amen.
A Benedictine Monk
Lord Jesus Christ,
Who call to Your service whomsoever You will,
let the light of Your Face and the tenderness of Your Heart
rest upon the young men of our own parishes and families.
Grant that those whom You have chosen from among us
may hear Your invitation and respond to Your call
with generosity and courage.
For our part, we are resolved
to welcome and support priestly vocations in our midst
with gratitude, humility, and joy.
We promise to pray tirelessly
for those whom You have set apart to preach Your Word,
to offer Your Sacrifice, and to nourish, heal, and comfort our souls.
Confident that You have already heard our prayer,
we entrust the future priests among us
to the Immaculate Heart of Your Virgin Mother
that, for each one, she may be a guiding star in the night
and, day by day, a perpetual help.
Amen.
(Composed for laity by a member of the Benedictine Monks of Perpetual Adoration, at Silverstream Priory in Stamullen, County Meath, Ireland.)
A Grandparent's Vocation Prayer
Gracious God, source of all life, thank you for the amazing gift of our grandchildren. Help these precious young people appreciate the wonders of creation and understand how much our world needs their prayer and their service.
Dear Jesus, beloved redeemer and brother, awaken in them a deep sense of gratitude for the gift of faith. May they feel proud and privileged to be called to follow you and live the Gospel.
O Holy Spirit, fire of love, inspire them to share their light with others. Open their hearts to explore ordained and religious life. Keep them centered in Christ in single life and marriage.
May our grandchildren learn from the wisdom of their parents and call on their patron saints to guide their choices in life. May they experience the powerful strength of faith and the lasting joy of serving others.
Sustain us as grandparents in your grace as we cherish each new day. Help us remember that how we live affects how our grandchildren will live. United in faith, hope, and charity, we pray. Amen.
(Composed by Margaret A. Paluch (1922-2009) - Founder, J.S. Paluch National Vocations Awareness Division)