Prayers for Vocations

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from the USCCB

Hail Mary, full of grace;
all generations call you blessed.
Hail Mother of God; when asked by the angel
to bear the Son of the Most High,
filled with faith, you responded:
"Let it be done unto me."

Holy Mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast at Cana,
you prompted your Son to perform his first sign.

Be with us as we discern our life's work
and guide us in the way we are called to follow
in the footsteps of your Son.

Holy Mother of the Savior, at the foot of the cross
you mourned the death of your only Son.

Bless and embrace the loving parents of all priests,
deacons, brothers and sisters.

Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd,
turn your motherly care to this nation.

Intercede for us to the Lord of the harvest
to send more laborers to the harvest
in this land dedicated to your honor.

Queen of Peace, Mirror of Justice, Health of the Sick,
inspire vocations in our time.

Let the word of your Son be made flesh anew
in the lives of persons anxious to proclaim
the good news of everlasting life.
Amen.

Loving God,
your Son, Jesus, has shown us that an open heart finds the way.
Help me to find my way in this world.
Keep my heart open to following Jesus' way of serving
others in love.

Give me the courage to accept the guidance you offer me
through my family, my friends, and my parish community.

Through the Holy Spirit, you call me to a particular way of
life.

If it is the way of a priest, sister, brother or deacon, then
help me to walk it in joyful service to your people.

With you, my God, I know I can find my way.
Amen.

Lord Jesus, we pray to you for the Catholic priesthood.
Give us more priests, but most especially we ask you to give us holy priests.
Messengers of a truth that is all-encompassing and eternal,
holy priests who know how to offer this truth to the people of their own time and place.
Holy men for today, priests firmly rooted in the tradition, yet imbued with the spirit of this age. T
hey have undertaken a mission in your name, Lord.
May the reflection of your power in them always make it clear that they are your witnesses.

Grant that they may conform their lives to the paschal mystery that they celebrate each day in the Eucharist.
May they sense in this mystery the anxious hunger of the world and of their own brothers and sisters for salvation.
May they know, despite this hunger, how to respect the spiritual freedom of others;
for it is your word which has given the world a taste for this freedom.
May they understand and speak the language of their own time.
And may they be careful never to compromise, with opinions that come and go, the imperishable newness of your Gospel.

May they always keep through the dark wintry night of the soul an obstinate hope for the springtime to come.
And when they meet those who persecute you, may they always remember the road to Damascus and the hidden ways of your providence.

From the Catholic Family Prayer Book

Prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood

Lord Jesus Christ, Shepherd of souls,
who called the apostles to be fishers of men,
raise up new apostles in your holy Church.

Teach them that to serve you is to reign:
to possess you is to possess all things.
Kindle in the hearts of our people the fire of zeal for souls.
Make them eager to spread your Kingdom upon earth.
Grant them courage to follow you, who are the Way, the Truth and the Life;
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer by St. Charles Borromeo

O holy Mother of God, pray for the priests your
Son has chosen to serve the Church. Help them, by
your intercession, to be holy, zealous, and chaste.
Make them models of virtue in the service of God’s
people.

Help them be pious in meditation, efficacious in
preaching, and zealous in the daily offering of the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Help them administer
the sacraments with joy.
Amen.