Prayers for Vocations and Seminarians

Archdiocese of Santa Fe

Priestly Vocations

Prayers for Vocations

I pledge myself to pray each day for vocations to the priesthood, religious life, permanent diaconate and lives of service and ministry within the Roman Catholic Church.

Prayers for each day of the week:

Every Day

Blessed are You, Lord God of all creation, in Your goodness You give us many good gifts: the gift of Your Son, our Lord Jesus, who shows us Your love; the gift of Your Spirit, who moves in our hearts and in our lives; the gift of faith and the gift of community.

You give to each of us some gift of ministry and service to others, in our hearts with our prayers, in our homes with our hands and words, or in the world in all that we do.

Sunday

On this day when we gather as Your people to celebrate Your love as a community gathered around Your table, help us to be truly thankful that to some You have given the gift of priesthood. Inspire ________, Your priest, to be filled with your love. Inspire ________ that he may answer Your call to priesthood, if that should be Your holy will.

Monday

As I begin the word of this week, help me become a better example of Christian witness to others. May they see in me a reflection of Your Son, and of His Blessed Mother.

Tuesday

Help me this day to encourage someone in Your service as a priest, brother, sister, deacon or lay minister by my words of affirmation and my prayer of thankfulness for their ministry.

Wednesday

When Your priests, deacons and religious are discouraged, when your seminarians and those in training as religious feel that their vocation is a burden and not a gift, help them to know that you are with them and that Your people love them.

Thursday

Send Your blessings to all those families who have given sons and daughters as priests and religious, and those families who have shared fathers, mothers, husbands and wives as permanent deacons and lay ministers.

Friday

On this day when we recall the suffering and sacrifice of Christ, may I offer up to You the sufferings and pains of my life that many young men, especially ___________, may follow in Christ's footsteps as priests.

Saturday

On this day when so many weddings are celebrated, may You bless all those who are married with faithful love, and may You be the best friend and companion of all those who are widowed, separated, single or divorced.

Every Day

I pray with all my heart as I offer to You ... Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be ... and/or this Rosary of Your Blessed Mother. Amen.

Come Holy Spirit...

It is You who open the heart and mind to the Divine call;

it is You who make effective every impetus

towards good, towards truth, towards charity...

Open the hearts and minds of men,

so that the new flowering of vocations may spring forth

the fidelity of your love, and all may know Christ,

the true light come into the world,

to offer every human being the sure hope of eternal life.

Amen

--Pope John Paul II

Loving Father...

You have blessed me with many gifts and talents.

Grant me the wisdom to know how best to use them

for the glory of Your name.

Jesus calls, "Come follow me."

I want to follow him and be faithful to him.

Give me the courage to follow wherever he may lead.

Bless the Church with generous hearts,

eager to serve your people and to spread Your word.

Amen

Good and gracious God,

in your eternal plan of salvation,

you established a covenant

with your people, giving them a

share in your divine life.

Through the sacraments of the

Church, you continue to sustain the

faith of your beloved sons and daughters.

Hear our prayers for our seminarians.

Through the intercession of Mary,

Mother of the Church, place deep

within their hearts a desire

to do your will, so that they may serve your Church

with joy in the new millennium and

lead your people to holiness.

By the love of the Holy Spirit, inspire

them to follow Jesus your Son,

who is our Lord and Savior for ever and ever.

Amen

Litany for Vocations

Mother of the Word Incarnate, help us to become more aware of the need for vocations...