Profiles in Catholicism

Jul 22, 202113 min read

Religious Vocations

Updated: May 25

General Vocations

Prayers

A prayer for religious vocation

“Christ, Joseph and Mary”

In your Holy Family, Lord, there were many vocations, to

Marriage, adoption, being a foster-father, mother, the care

Of children, celibacy, virginity, prayer, pilgrimage, and the

Mystery of a priestly ministry of forgiveness and healing,

Which, together with the disciples, founded the Church.

Between widespread starvation, poverty, conflict and

The unreachable pinnacles of overwhelming wealth,

Lord, there is pointing to beautiful blossoms

Between the shops of impossibly expensive handbags,

And the ragged, bag man, woman, or child in a box,

Lord, there is the smile that lets another go first,

Between holidays, boats and security costs that could

Pay the poor an important pittance the world over,

Lord, there is planting flowers and vegetables

Between gangs, military powers, weaponized media,

And scraping a living and escaping gang membership,

Lord, there is announcing the truth-in-love

Between those immersed in their games, videos, phones,

And the efforts of those nearby, calling them outside,

Lord, there are the many sufferings of parents

Between the long, dominating hours of work, and study,

The long, lonely hours of child-care and slipping, socially,

Lord, there are the gifts of shopping and cooking

Between the “stay-ins” and those who die alone, isolated,

And the waste upon waste of wealth upon appearances,

Lord, there is remembering to visit in-person

And the need to integrate, to socialize, and to see the other

Is not just another, but the infant, the young, and the man

who is Christ and the infant, the young, and the woman

who is His Mother, Mary, who asks and obtains His help.

So what is the good to be done that undoes wrongdoing?

What is the giving of gifts that goes beyond leftovers?

What is the help that each and everyone can give freely?

What light can we switch off, what rubbish reuse or recycle?

What mission, transmitting what we have received, can we

Resend through the mystery of self-giving love, given wholly?

Lord, you have given everything, down to nothing and more,

Giving us your mother to be ours and your disciples to help!

Let us pray that all the ways we are called to act and to serve,

Will include the giving of life in the service of now and here,

And hereafter, not skimming and skipping like stones across

Water but helping, more and more deeply, like divers diving

Into the open wounds of Christ and mingling grace with pain

And hurt with tears, sharing what breaks separation and builds

Up the body through the bread of love and the wine of glory.

by Francis Etheredge Catholic married layman, father of 11, 3 of whom are in heaven, and an author.

The Holy Father’s Prayer For Vocations

Holy and Provident Father, You are the Lord of the vineyard and the harvest and You give each a just reward for their work. In Your design of love You call men and women to work with You for the salvation of the world.

We thank You for Jesus Christ, Your living Word, who has redeemed us from our sins and is among us to assist us in our poverty. Guide the flock to which You have promised possession of the Kingdom.

Send new workers into Your harvest and set in the hearts of Pastors faithfulness to Your plan of salvation, perseverance in their vocation and holiness of life.

Christ Jesus, who on the shores of the Sea of Galilee called the Apostles and made them the foundation of the Church and bearers of Your Gospel, in our day sustain Your people on their journey. Give courage to those whom You call to follow You in the priesthood and the consecrated life, so that they may enrich God’s field with the wisdom of Your Word. Make them docile instruments of Your love in everyday service of their brothers and sisters.

Spirit of holiness, who pours out Your gifts on all believers and especially on those called to be Christ’s ministers, help young people to discover the beauty of the divine call. Teach them the true way of prayer, which is nourished by the Word of God. Help them to read the signs of the times so as to be faithful interpreters of Your gospel and bearers of salvation.

Mary, Virgin who listened and Virgin of the Word made flesh in your womb, help us to be open to the Word of the Lord so that having been welcomed and meditated on, it may grow in our hearts. Help us to live like you the beatitudes of believers and to dedicate ourselves with unceasing charity to evangelizing all those who seek your Son.

Grant that we may serve every person, becoming servants of the Word we have heard, so that remaining faithful to it we may find our happiness living it.

Vocation Prayer

O Father, you desire all of us to be happy.

Stir up the grace of a religious vocation in the hearts

of many men and women.

Grant to them the willingness and generosity

to give of themselves, their lives, their time and their

talents to the service of Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord and

Savior, and to His Holy Church.

May more men and women go forth as priests, deacons,

brothers and sisters to bring the truths of our Catholic faith

to all others so that soon they, too, may know You better

and love You more...