Graduating from school, especially college, is filled with excitement and apprehension. It is a celebration marked with feelings of pride and jubilation, knowing that years of studies have finally found completion. But along with it are also feelings of anxiety and fear in leaving school and facing the “real world.” The uncertainty that lies ahead can be scary for young men and women.
In this prayer for graduates, we hope to help express our desires and intentions as graduating students. We might be anxious about finding a job, settling on our own, and supporting ourselves. The stress and pressure from all of these may be overwhelming but none of that matters as long as we’re open to the grace of God and His guidance.
As the Latin saying goes, Deus providebit, “God will provide” we see that God did not only create the world but also takes care of His creation. He cared for us in all those years of school and studies and will never cease doing that even after graduation. Our concerns and longings may be different now than ever, but we can trust God’s providence no matter what. Graduation is in itself a testament to our work and our faith in God’s providence. Keep that spirit alive, and pray this prayer with the hope that we move into the future with optimism and enthusiasm.
Prayer for graduates
Lord Jesus Christ, You have shown how important it is to remain connected to God and others when facing a troubling moment in life. In the Garden of Gethsemane, You confronted Your fear and anxiety by turning to God and realigning Your life with His will. Amid the uncertainty that lies ahead of You, You are comforted by the providence and love of the Father.
I have not been as strong and as faithful as You, O Lord. I have withered in my faith when uncertainty and fear overwhelm me. Let this graduation remind me that as I face a new chapter in my life, God is there to assure me of his unending love, guidance, and providence.
Thank You, Lord, for the outstanding teachers, mentors, friends, and classmates who have been with me all these years. Through them, I have felt Your presence and guidance, and now that I have ventured into a new phase of my life, I know You will still be there.
Help me put the knowledge, skills, and insights I have gained for the good of humanity. Bless me with hope so that I can face the future with optimism and openness to Your bountiful grace. Inspire me to continue believing in the beauty of life, especially during times of trouble and difficulties.
I seek Your providence and guidance as I transition to a new period in my life. In Your Holy name.
Amen.
Short Catholic prayer for graduates
Dear Lord, please help me face the future with optimism and trust in Your love and providence. Bless my heart with hope and strengthen my faith amid uncertainty and doubt. Lead me, Lord, in this new path of life. I humbly ask this in thy Holy name. Amen.
The Word of God
Jeremiah 29:11 NRSVUE
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Now, therefore, take your stand and see this great thing that the Lord will do before your eyes.
1 Samuel 12:16 NRSVUE
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11 NRSVUE
Prayer to Saint Therese of Lisieux for graduates
St. Therese, you held on to your faith in God even more strongly when uncertainties and doubts started to overwhelm you. You turned to Jesus and sought His guidance when your faith was attacked. Having passed through all this, you’ve provided a model for me and others who may still be walking in the shadows.
I have often not been faithful to God and, at times, doubt Him, particularly when things become more difficult. As a result, I have turned to sin rather than seeking God’s help.
O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, ask God for the blessings I now place in confidence through your intercession.
Please, St. Therese, the Little Flower of Jesus, help me to believe and love God as you did. Give me a heart of a child who embraces everything with eagerness and excitement. Guide me as I brave the challenges ahead of me after this graduation and help me discern the voice of God as I continue to craft my journey in life and faith.
St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us! Amen.
Further reflection
Graduation is a moment of celebration as it marks one’s triumph after years of academic endeavor, but at the same time, it also ushers in a new period which may cause stress and anxiety to graduates.
The uncertainties brought about by this transition may overwhelm us and lead us to despair and misery. Have we confided to God our feelings and sentiments through daily prayer? Have we reached out to others and talked about our concerns and apprehensions?
Feeling anxious makes us feel isolated. However, in this period of transition, it is essential to be surrounded by family and friends and discuss our thoughts and emotions. In doing so, we get to make sense of what we think and feel, and we may be surprised that we are not alone in this moment of uncertainty as we have their support and care.
God will provide, and He will never abandon us. Therefore, we need to entrust to Him all our fears and trepidations. We may often not get what we want or what we need, but in God’s time and will, we hope to see His wisdom and rely upon his divine providence.
Appreciate every experience and be open to every opportunity. Our first job may not be our dream job, but that eventually could be the first step towards landing that position a little further down the line. So enjoy and take the time to gain experience, and remember that learning doesn’t stop once we graduate.
Lastly, say this prayer for graduates as often as possible and be comforted by God’s assurance of love and care even beyond graduation.
