Discerning what to do with your life? Wondering what God is calling you to? Here are some great prayers to help you on your way.
For the Church
Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all thy faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
each may serve thee in holiness and truth to the glory of thy name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For vocations
Almighty God,
who hast entrusted to thy Church
a share in the ministry of thy Son our great High Priest:
we pray that by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit
the hearts of many may be moved to offer themselves
for the ministry of the Church,
and that, strengthened by his power,
they may work for the increase of thy kingdom
and set forward the eternal praise of thy name;
through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
For those to be ordained
Almighty God,
the giver of all good gifts,
who by thy Holy Spirit
hast appointed various orders of ministry in thy Church:
look with mercy on thy servants now called to be deacons and priests,
so maintain them in truth and renew them in holiness,
that they may faithfully serve thee both in word and deed,
to the glory of thy name and the benefit of thy holy Church;
through the merits of Saviour Jesus Christ,
who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A reflection of Saint John Henry Newman
"God has created me to do Him some definite service.
He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work.
I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.
Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him.
If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about.
He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers.
He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me.
Still, He knows what He is about."