PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS: FATHER’S FAITH NOTES – NOVEMBER 7, 2021
This week the Church celebrates National Vocations Awareness Week, which is dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. As with many such celebrations, setting aside a week for this cause serves to call attention to something that should always be close to our hearts and in our prayers. The need for more vocations to priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life is evident but we do not pray for and promote vocations only because we need more men and women to serve. We do so because we believe that more young people discerning God’s call in their lives is ultimately what is best for them. God’s call is not based only on His need for laborers but on His desire to share the joy of ministry with His sons and daughters.
That perspective can help us be more willing to encourage the young men and women we know to discern and follow God’s call, confident that doing so is the path to authentic happiness, holiness, and fulfillment. Please join me this week in praying for vocations, offering at least once, or even better, every day, the following:
O loving and gracious God, Father of all, you bless your people in every time and season and provide for their needs through your providential care. Your Church is continually in need of priests, sisters and brothers to offer themselves in the service of the gospel by lives of dedicated love. Open the hearts of your sons and daughters to listen to your call in their lives. Give them the gift of understanding to discern your invitation to serve you and your Church. Give them the gift of courage to follow your call. May they have the spirit of young Samuel who found fulfillment in his life when he said to you, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
Have a blessed week,
Fr. Michael