Vocations Prayer for Vocations to The Priesthood and Religious Life O Lord, send workers for your harvest, so that the Gospel of your Only-Begotten Son may always be proclaimed and His sacrifice be everywhere renewed. Look with favor upon your family, the Church, and ever increase her numbers. Enable her to lead her sons and daughters to the holiness to which they are called and to work for the salvation of others. Through Christ Our Lord.  Amen.

What are Vocations?
A vocation is God's invitation or calling to each individual to love and serve Him and His Church in a particular state or way of life. Each person's freedom lies in discovering his or her vocation and in generously responding to the Lord who calls them to such great things. If someone does not follow the vocation for which Christ made them, they can attain a certain degree of happiness in this world and still attain salvation.  However, they will not be as happy or blessed as they might have been had they followed their proper vocation.  This is why it is so important that everyone discern their particular vocation prayerfully and responsibly.  Of course, there are trials and tribulations in every vocation.  To become a priest or consecrated religious does not take away all suffering.  But there is great joy in laying down one's life for Christ.  Your vocation is Christ's gift to you.  How you respond is your gift to Him.

How do I discover what God is calling me to be?
Believe that God has a plan for you. Trust that God will make His plan known to you. Pray to have an open mind and heart to discover and respond generously to God’s plan. Listen to God in prayer and to others in conversation about the different vocation possibilities. Act in a way that shows you really want to serve God and His Church. Most people are called to the married state of life while others are especially chosen and called to the state of election as priests, consecrated religious men and women, or as deacons. Christ also calls some to the committed single life.  Remember: It is normal to desire marriage and family.  Just because you have this desire does not exclude the possibility that you have a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. Most vocation directors agree that the only way to really know that you have a vocation to priesthood or religious life is to enter the seminary or convent.  During the formation years God's will becomes clearer and clearer as you pray and discern with others.  The years spent in formation are a benefit to you spiritually even if you discover that you are not called to be a priest or consecrated religious.