Vocational Discernment Prayers

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life."  (John 6:68)

Finding and following God's will for our lives is grounded in and nourished by prayer.  To support you in your ongoing discernment, we offer you these short prayers.

Father in Heaven,

I know you love me

And are calling me to Choose Life!
But sometimes, I am overwhelmed
by the thought of my future.
It's scary

Help me to listen to your call
in all the ways you speak to me:
Through prayer and the Scriptures,
through the Church
and the circumstances of my life,
through those who love and care for me,
and especially through my own hopes and desires.

Guide me to search openly and learn about life's choices,
so that I may respond generously to your call,
and choose the vocation that will enable me to love wholeheartedly,
and serve others with the special gifts you have given me.

Father, I thank you for your love
and for all the promise
that your gift of life holds for me.

Amen.

Loving God, You have called me to life
And gifted me in many ways.

Help me to become all You desire of me.
Lead me to choose the path of life
You have planned for me.

Open my heart to listen to Your call
And guide me with Your Holy Spirit
That I may have the courage to respond to you.

Enkindle in my heart and the hearts of others
The desire to make the world a better place.

Amen.

Lord, I thank you for the gifts you have given me, especially for life, love, family and friends.

Help me to know myself better and to know my talents as I pray, study and decide on my life’s work.

Help me to see and understand the path you open for me.

Help me choose a life’s work which will develop all my potential

And enable me to respond fully to your love for me. In whatever way you are inviting me to follow you.

Give me a generous heart to respond to your challenging call And the strength to follow you wherever you lead me.

Amen.

Lord,
my God and my loving Father
You have made me to know you,
To love you, to serve you,
And thereby to find and fulfil myself.
I know that you are in all things,
And that every path can lead me to you.
But of them all, there is one especially
By which you want me to come to you.
Since I will do what you want of me,
I pray you send your Holy Spirit to me:
Into my mind, to show me what you want of me;
Into my heart, to give me the determination to do it,
And to do it with all my love, with all my mind,
And with all my strength, right to the end.
Amen.

God, I know you love me
And have great plans for me.
But sometimes I am overwhelmed
By the thought of my future.
Show me how to walk forward
One day at a time.
May I take heart while I search openly,
Learn about all the choices,
Listen to other for advice,
And pay attention to my own feelings.
By doing these things,
May I hear your call to a lifestyle and a career
That will let me love as only I can,
And let me serve others
With the special gifts that you have given me.
Amen.

2023 Columban Christmas Appeal

Support the Columban Christmas Appeal, providing comfort to the lonely, hope to the despairing, and assistance to those facing challenging circumstances through our various ministries and outreach programs in the many countries where we serve.