Prayer for Priestly Vocations
“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 Your 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 forever and ever. Amen.”
Prayer to Know One’s Vocation
Lord, make me a better person: more considerate towards others, more honest with myself, more faithful to You. Help me to find my true vocation in life and grant that through it I may find happiness myself and bring happiness to others. Grant, Lord, that those whom You call to enter Priesthood or Religious Life may have the generosity to answer Your call, so that those who need Your help may always find it. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Religious Vocations
“O Divine Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father and of Mary Immaculate, Thou didst leave Thy Mother and Thy foster-father St. Joseph, for three days in Jerusalem as a mere child to do the Will of Him Who sent Thee and to be about Thy Father’s business. Through the merits of this painful separation, grant to children a great desire to consecrate themselves to Thy service. Give them true generosity in following Thy Call, and bestow upon them the grace to persevere in overcoming all obstacles to their vocation. Give to parents, likewise, the faith, love, and spirit of sacrifice which will make them consent when a child of theirs is sincerely called to the Religious Life. Let Thy example, and that of Thy Blessed Mother and St. Joseph encourage both children and parents, and let Thy grace sustain them. Amen.”
Prayer for Vocations to the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration of Our Lady of Solitude Monastery
O Lord Jesus Christ, sublime model of all perfection, You are ever urging onward all privileged souls in their high aspiration toward the goal of religious life. At the same time, You also strengthen them so that they may be able to follow You in such a noble way of life.
Grant then that many, recognizing Your sweet inspirations, may have the will to correspond with them by embracing the religious state and so enjoy in it Your special care and tender love.
May there flourish in every place gardens of chosen souls who by contemplation and penance make reparation for the sins of men and invoke Your mercy upon them, especially at Our Lady of Solitude Monastery; grant to us committed, loving, and mature vocations.
Enlighten, O Lord Jesus Christ, many generous souls with the fiery glow of the Holy Spirit Who is substantial and eternal love. By the powerful intercession of Your most dear Mother Mary, stir up and preserve in them the fire of Your love, to the glory of the Father and the same Holy Spirit, Who together with You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer to Mary for Holy Vocations by Pope John Paul II
“O Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, in this hour so meaningful for us, we are one heart and one mind: as were Peter, the Apostles, the brethern, joined in prayer, with you, in the Cenacle. We entrust to you our lives. To you we all, one and all, repeat: “TOTUS TUUS EGO SUM,” that you may take up our consecration and unite it with that of Jesus and your own, as an oblation to God the Father, for the life of the world. We pray you to look upon the needs of your children, as you did at Cana, when you were touched to the heart by that family’s situation. Today the greatest need of this your family is VOCATIONS: presbyteral, diaconal, religious and missionary.
So, reach with your ‘suppliant omnipotence’ the hearts of many of our brethern, that they may listen, understand, and respond to the voice of the Lord. Repeat to them, in the depths of their consciences, the invitation addressed to the servants at Cana: DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU.”