A Parents’ 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

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.

Prayer for Evangelisation

Prayer for Evangelisation
As the seed grows silently in the earth,
As the yeast rises in the dough,
May your power, Spirit of God, be at work in us.
Like a city set on a hill,
Like a lamp shining in the darkness,
May we witness together,
Calling our brothers and sisters to the glory of your light and the peace and justice of your kingdom.
Amen.

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 for Discernment

Father,

I know you love me and have 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 all about the choices, listen to others for advice, and pay attention to my own feelings. By doing these things, may I hear your call to live a life that will let me love as only I can, and allow me to serve others with the special gifts you have given me.

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


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


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 these 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."

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