A prayer for vocations

Posted on 10 December 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

In light of my post about the 20 year high in vocations to the priesthood in these USA, I received this:

Thank you for your Blog.

I saw the article you posted on the increase of Priestly Vocations.

Thanks be to God.

I am in need of a Prayer for Vocations.

I thought you had one on the Blog, but I can not find it. [Ah, yes!]

The one that was on the USCCB’s web site is down :( I am not wishing to burden you with writing one, but am looking for one you may know of or have already.

I am involved with 2 different meetings / workshops this week with Catholic Men. K of C (Council 7027) on Thursday and Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Men’s Prayer Breakfast on Saturday. I will share this good news on Priestly Vocations with them, pray with them, and wish to leave them a prayer for Vocations. [My greetings to them.]

Thanks again for all you do.

Yes, indeed. At my home parish in my native place – St. Agnes in St. Paul, Minnesota – we prayed for vocations at ever Sunday and Holy Day Mass after the Gospel (everyone knelt) and before the announcements/sermon. That prayer, combined with the effortless efforts of the late Msgr. Schuler, produced 30 1st Masses in the parish in 33 years. I’ll get back there someday, perhaps.

Here is the prayer:

LEADER: Please kneel for our prayer for vocations.

ALL: O God, we earnestly beseech Thee to bless this (arch)diocese with many priests, brothers and sisters, who will gladly spend their entire lives to serve Thy Church and to make Thee known and loved.

LEADER: Bless our families. Bless our children.

ALL: Choose from our homes those who are needed for Thy work.

LEADER: Mary, Queen of the Clergy!

ALL: Pray for us. Pray for our priests and religious. Obtain for us many more.

A friend back home sent me one of the original holy cards, which I prize.

It isn’t mysterious, people.

Hard-identity Catholicism, true, faithful and joy-filled, produces vocations. At the heart of this hard-identity Catholicism is faithful, dignified liturgical worship and the unambiguous fidelity of priests who provide an example.