Every one of us has a vocation. A calling that God has planted in our hearts when we were conceived. God has prepared a path for us to follow, and we have the freedom to choose which one to take. One may choose to live a married life, live in single-blessedness, or live a life of service to God’s people. These are the vocations of every Catholic Christian: the call to a nurturing love, the call to a sanctifying love, and the call to an altruistic love.
In this prayer, we ask God to call men and women to respond to their vocation to the priesthood and religious life. We ask the Holy Spirit to inspire more young people to discern which vocation they will follow. We ask Jesus to accompany those who are in formation so that they may become like Him, an obedient servant to God’s people.
Prayer for an increase in vocations
Lord Jesus Christ,
You called your disciples by their name, for You knew them well. They were with You throughout the years You spent in proclaiming the Kingdom of God. You chose them not because of their status nor wealth but for their love of You. You forgave their sins to allow their hearts to love You more fully and freely. You sent them to the ends of the earth, carrying out Your salvific mission for everyone.
We ask You, Lord Jesus, to call more workers to your vineyard, for the harvest is bountiful, but the laborers are few. Call men and women to become instruments of Your love and service to God’s people. Accompany them throughout their discernment in life so that they may live fully, perfecting God’s plan for them. Forgive their shortcomings as they mould their hearts to become like Yours. Send them throughout the world as they continue to draw people into the bosom of God’s love.
Likewise, may my heart be open to receive such a call from You, Lord Jesus. May I become more aware of the path where You are leading me. May I hear Your voice in the people around me and through the events of my daily life. May I faithfully follow Your voice within me as I continue to walk under Your providence and guidance.
May this prayer of mine contribute to the prayer of the Church for the supplication of pastors to tend the flock, of laborers to harvest the vineyard, and of chosen souls to become like Christ on earth.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Short prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life
Lord Jesus Christ, call the hearts of men and women in responding to a life of service with You. Accompany them throughout their discernment and formation. And send them throughout the world as they gather God’s people back to the bosom of the Father. Amen.
The Word of God
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Matthew 4:18-22 NRSVUE
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
Matthew 10:1-4 NRSVUE
Prayer to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus for Catholic vocations
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, patroness of vocations, I ask your intercession to inspire men and women to respond to God’s call to a life service to His people. O Saint Therese, may you also inspire the hearts of young people as you yourself were eager to heed God’s invitation to enter the religious life at such a young age. May your example of persistence and zeal in responding to the call of God draw more young people to offer their lives in serving the Church.
Saint Therese, your ardent prayer for the pastors and the religious sustained them in offering their lives to God. May you also pray for our priests, our religious and our lay people who are serving our parish community. May you keep them safe from all harm. May you strengthen them in their weakness. And may you sustain them in the love of Christ, our Lord.
May my simple way of praying for them also lead to the sanctification of my soul. May my practice of piety actualize my primary vocation as a Christian: that is, to love.
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.
Amen.
Further reflection
Vocation towards a life of ministry in service to God and His people is one of the many vocations that we can pursue as Christians. A life of marriage and single life are other paths which we can undertake through the grace of Baptism. With each vocation having its own charism, the vocation towards Holy Orders or ordained ministry focuses on building up the Kingdom of God on earth.
Aspiring religious undergo years of formation, which mould their minds and hearts. Being adept in the subjects of philosophy and theology equips them to understand and answer the different doctrinal and moral questions of our day. The goal of pursuing intellectual excellence is not for its credentials nor for the honors that it can give, but it is always at the disposal and service to God’s people. Thus, every aspirant is exposed to the various sectors of society to integrate what he or she learned in the classroom with what he or she experienced in being with the people. This would hone a pastoral heart likened to Jesus, filled with immense wisdom and charitable love for everyone.
With such a grand undertaking for anyone choosing a religious life, our prayers for them will be valuable. And yet our prayers are not only for them, but they are beneficial for us also. We have a common vocation which we received through Baptism, to live out our faith and to function as parts of the Body of Christ. As St. Therese of the Child Jesus would simply say, “My vocation is love!” Even if we do not pursue the vocation towards priesthood or religious life, we are called to love. We are called to love the Church with her ministers who continue to be faithful to Christ. We are called to love the Church with her members whom we ourselves are part of. We are called to love the Church with the poor whom she serves.
