Discernment Prayers

Prayer for Vocations

Lord Jesus, as You once called the first disciples to make them fishers of men, let your sweet invitation continue to resound: Come, follow Me!
Give young men and women the grace of responding quickly to Your voice. Support your bishops, priests and consecrated people in their apostolic labor.
Grant perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are carrying out the ideal of a life totally consecrated to Your service.
Awaken in our community a missionary eagerness.  Lord, send workers to your harvest and do not allow humanity to be lost for the lack of pastors, missionaries and people dedicated to the cause of the Gospel. Mary, Mother of the Church, the model of every vocation, help us to say "yes" to the Lord Who calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation.

Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd

Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd, turn your motherly care to our Diocese.  Intercede for us to the Lord of the Harvest to send more laborers to the harvest.  Inspire vocations in our time.  Let the word of your Son be made flesh anew in the lives of persons anxious to proclaim the Good News of everlasting life.  Draw them near to the heart of your Son so that they can understand the beauty and the joy that awaits them to be His witnesses.  Amen.

Prayer of Discernment 

O Lord, I do not know what to ask you.  You alone know my real needs, and you love me more than I even know how to love.  Enable me to discern my true needs which are hidden from me.  I ask for neither Cross nor consolation.; I wait in patience for you.  My heart is open to you.  For your great mercy’s sake, come to me and help me.  Put your mark on me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up.  Silently, I adore your holy will and your inscrutable ways.  I offer myself in sacrifice to you and put all my trust in you.  I desire only to do your will.  Teach me how to pray and pray in me, yourself.  Amen.

Prayer of Abandonment to God’s Will and Direction

Master of my heart, what I yearn for most is intimacy with you. Give me that deep-down faith that believes you love me passionately.  In our heart-to-heart conversations, my Eucharistic Jesus, let me dream your dreams for me. And may I dream to make a difference for the people of today.  Jesus Master, calm me as I go about my sometimes frenetic-paced life. Use my creativity, my energy, my enthusiasm in the way you see best, to bring light and grace to our overworked world. When I become overwhelmed by difficulties, doubts, and disappointments, may I let go of my own opinions and desires and trust that your will should be done.  I can say more, but….Whatever, Lord! May I live only for you. Amen.

Prayer for One’s Own Vocation

Heavenly Father, I believe in your wisdom and love.  I believe you created me for heaven, marked out for me the way to reach it, and await me there to give me the reward of the faithful servant.  Give me light and show me this way.  Grant me the strength to follow it generously.  I beg this of you, through Jesus Christ, your Son, and through Mary, my Queen and Mother.  At the moment of death, may I be able to say with St. Paul: "I have finished the course. I have fought the good fight.  Now there is laid up for me the crown of the just." Amen.

A Parent’s Vocation Prayer for their Children 

Loving Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, You have created my children special and unique and I give You thanks and praise for them. Help me to guide them well, to pray for them deeply. Open their hearts to Your word that they may know the sound of Your voice in a world filled with distractions. May they hear Your call to live lives of Christian service. If you are calling my children to a life of Church ministry, my prayer is that Your call will be steady and irresistible. Grant me, too, a generous heart to open my arms one day to give them to Your service. Mother Mary, may your tender care keep my children safe, especially as they discern their vocations in life. Loving God, what I ask for my children, I ask for all children: help them to know Your Presence in their lives for You are God for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for Priests

Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and to act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising. In times of weakness send them your Spirit, and help them to praise your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit put your word on their lips and your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted. And may the gift of Mary your mother, to the disciple whom you loved, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed you in her human image, may form them in your divine image, by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.