|
Discernment Information
Signs
of a Call & Steps to Take
Diocesan Priesthood
Men's Religious Communities
Women's Religious Communities
Prayers
|
Prayers
|
"Discovering one's vocation is
not a navel-gazing, self-focused, psychological exercise. It's
not about figuring something out.
It is not about solving a
confusing puzzle.
It is about meeting a person:
the person of Christ.
Then Christ reveals his chosen
vocation."
(taken from: Is Jesus Calling you to be a Catholic Priest?)
|
There are many prayers that can be used to pray for
vocations. Don't be afraid to search the web for many
great prayers. Below you will find the prayer of Bishop
Moynihan for vocations and other prayers for discernment.
|
Prayer for
Vocations
Loving God, you sent your Spirit on the apostles to continue
the mission of your Son, Jesus. We pray that you will now
send your Spirit on our bishops, priests, deacons, sisters
and brothers, filling them with zeal to evangelize your
people.
We
pray for all that are presently discerning your call, those
in vocational formation and those preparing them. We pray
that your bless our diocese with more priests and deacons,
and religious congregations with new members.
Mary our Mother and patroness intercede for us that our
pastoral needs may be fulfilled through Him who is Lord for
ever and ever. Amen.
|
Prayers for Discernment
An Augustinian Prayer for Vocational Discernment
|
God of my life,
I give you thanks and praise
that I have life,
and that my life is filled
with touches of Your love.
You have given me a heart
that wants to be happy,
and You have placed in me a
desire to make a difference.
Quiet the fears and
distractions of my heart long enough
for me to listen to the
movement of Your Spirit,
to hear Your gentle
invitation.
Reveal to me the choices
that will make me happy.
Help me to discover my
identity.
Let me understand how best
to use the gifts
You have so lovingly
lavished upon me
in preparation for our
journey together.
And give me the courage to
choose You
as You have chosen me.
Lord, let me know myself and
le me know You.
In this is my happiness. |
Prayers of St. Ignatius:
|
Generosity
Lord,
teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.
|
|
Surrender
Take,
O Lord, and receive my entire liberty,
my
memory, my understanding and my whole will.
All
that I am and all that I possess You have given me:
I
surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your
will.
Give
me only Your love and Your grace;
with
these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.
|
"The seminarian experiences the
beauty of God's call
in a moment of grace which can only
be defined as 'falling in love'...
It is only when a young man has had a
personal experience of Christ
that he can truly understand the
Lord's will
and consequently his own vocation."
-Pope Benedict XVI (World
Youth Day 2005) |
