Prayers

Prayer of Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are with me, and you will never leave me to face my struggles alone.

Amen.

Prayer of St Francis

All Highest and Glorious God,
Cast your light into the darkness of my heart.
Grant me right faith, firm hope, perfect charity, profound humility,
with wisdom and perception, O Lord, so that I may always
and everywhere seek to know and do what is truly your holy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of Charles de Foucauld

Father,
I abandon myself into Your hands,
do with me what You will.
For whatever You may do, I thank You.
I am ready for all, I accept all,
let only Your will be done in me,
as in all Your creatures:
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into Your hands I commend my soul
I offer it to You with all the love of my heart.
For I love, You, my God,
and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your
hands without reserve and with boundless confidence,
for You are my Father.

Amen.

A Memo to Myself

I have a vocation from God. If I already know what it is, I pray to be faithful.
If I am still searching, I pray to hear God’s voice and to respond generously.

Amen.

Prayer for Priests

Lord Jesus, the ministry of priests is a sign of your unfailing care.
Call from among us the priests needed for the Church of today and tomorrow.
Bless all students for the priesthood.
Grant them joy, wisdom, courage and a generous spirit.
Sustain priests with a real sense of your love and the support of those they are called to serve.
Keep them faithful to their calling.

Amen.

A Parent’s Prayer

Loving God, You have given us the privilege as well as the responsibility of parenthood.
Guide us as we invite our children to hear your call to service in the Church.
May they respond with deep faith and generosity to the needs of others.
Help us to be a source of encouragement by our own desire to be committed people who serve with love and enthusiasm.

Amen.

40th World Day of Prayer for Vocations

By Pope John Paul II

Mary, humble servant of God Most High, the Son to whom you gave birth has made you the servant of humanity.
Your life was a humble and generous service. You were servant of the Word when the angel announced to you the divine plan of salvation.
You were servant of the Son, giving him life and remaining open to his mystery.
You were servant of Redemption, standing courageously at the foot of the Cross, close to the Suffering Servant and Lamb, who was sacrificing himself for love of us.
You were servant of the Church on the day of Pentecost and with your intercession you continue to generate her in every believer, even in our difficult and troubled times.
Let the young people of the third millennium look to you, young daughter of Israel, who have known the agitation of a young heart when faced with the plan of the Eternal God.
Make them able to accept the invitation of your Son to give their lives wholly for the glory of God.
Make them understand that to serve God satisfies the heart, and that only in the service of God and of his kingdom do we realise ourselves in accordance with the divine plan, and life becomes a hymn of glory to the Most Holy Trinity.

Amen.