Prayers for Vocations

"The entire People of God is responsible for promoting vocations, and does so chiefly by persistent and humble prayer for vocations."

To serve the Church as a priest or a religious is indeed a humbling honor which no one merits but which Our Lord chooses for us. We must therefore pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers into His vineyard, and we should always pray for vocations to serve the Church in the priesthood and the religious life.

The following are prayers to assist those discerning their vocation or for praying for vocations in general:

Printable Prayers for Vocations

Prayer to Follow the Call of Christ

Lord, I thank You for the gifts You have given me, especially for life, love, family and friends.

Help me to know myself better and to know my talents, as I pray, study and decide on my life's work.

Help me to see and understand the path You open for me. Help me choose a life's work which will be in response to my potential and your love for me.

If I am being invited to follow You as a priest, brother, sister, give me a generous heart to respond to your challenging call and the strength to follow You wherever You lead me.

Amen.

Vocation Prayer for Discernment

God, I know You love me and have great plans for me. But sometimes I am overwhelmed by the thought of my future. Show me how to walk forward one day at a time.

May I take heart while I search openly, learn about all the choices, listen to others for advice, and pay attention to my own feelings. By doing these things, may I hear your call to a lifestyle and a career that will let me love as only I can, and let me serve others with the special gifts that You have given me.

Amen.

To Know One's Vocation

Lord, my God and my loving Father,
You have made me to know You, to love You, to serve You,
and thereby to find and to fulfill myself.
I know that You are in all things,
and that every path can lead me to You.
But of them all, there is one especially
by which You want me to come to You.
Since I will do what You want of me,
I pray You, send your Holy Spirit to me: into my mind,
to show me what You want of me; into my heart,
to give me the determination to do it,
and to do it with all my love, with all my mind,
and with all my strength right to the end.
Amen.

Bringing the Father's Love to the World

Lord Jesus,

Please grant to me the grace to know my true vocation.

In Baptism I was signed in your name and have grown to share in the work of bringing the Father's love to our world. May I respond to the special life's work to which You are calling me.

I ask that many will hear the particular call to serve in the Church as priests, religious and consecrated lay people.

To whatever You ask of me, may I freely, courageously and lovingly respond.

Amen.

Responding to Baptismal Graces

Creator God,

Life is your gift to me. Through Baptism, You invite me to share the gift of my life in service to others.

Be with me as I choose each day to show your presence in our world. Give me the courage and generosity to respond to your love, to your call.

I pray especially for priests, brothers, sisters and all those who endeavor to serve You in witnessing to the Gospel. Keep them close to You. Open the minds and hearts of many other men and women that they may accept your challenge to build the Kingdom.

Amen.

Send Your Holy Spirit

Heavenly Father, You have created each of us to love You and your people.

You have chosen some to serve by responding to the particular call to the priesthood and religious life.

Send your Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of those You have designed to follow this path of spiritual leadership.

We pray this petition, faithful and most gracious God, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

Strengthen Me

Loving God, in Baptism You ask me to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with You.

Help me to know how to bring justice and love to a world that is desperately in need of You and your values.

Strengthen me, as well as my brothers and sisters, with the courage and generosity to respond to your invitation.

I ask this in the name of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Family Vocation Prayer

Loving God, each member of our family is a special gift from You. You have given each of us gifts and talents so that we may enjoy life but also so we can share with others. Generous and loving people are needed for service and leadership in our Church.

Help us to know how to encourage and support each other so that we can respond generously to this need. We know that You will be with us, invite us to become the kind of people You desire us to be. Help us to trust in You and in each other.

Amen.

Pope John Paul II'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 its 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 wisdom of your Word. Make them docile instruments of your love in everyday service of their brothers and sisters.

Spirit of holiness, who pour 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 of God made flesh in your womb, help us to be open to the Word of the Lord, so that, having been welcomed and meditated upon, 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 in living it.

Amen.