Prayer for Vocations

Lord Jesus Christ,
Head and Shepherd of your people,
you raised in your Church,
Saint John Mary Vianney, Curé of Ars.
You blessed us through the holiness of his life
and the admirable fruitfulness of his ministry.

With perseverance and humble patience,
he overcame all the obstacles on the way to priesthood.
As a priest,
he drew from the celebration of the Eucharist
and silent prayer,
the ardour of his pastoral charity
and the dynamism of his apostolic zeal.

By his intercession,

Touch our young people;
that they may find in the example of his life
the enthusiasm to move forward in their path,
with the same courage,
without hesitation.

Renew our priests;
that they may cling to you
fervently and profoundly.
May they build up our communities,
around the Eucharist
and the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
in unity and mutual love.

Strengthen all Christian families;
that they may support their children
whom you have chosen.

Lord,
today as in the past,
send laborers to your harvest
to take up the task of preaching the Gospel
to the people of our time.
Increase in number, the young people
who are willing to give their lives as one act of love,
in service to their brethren,
like Saint John Mary Vianney.

You who are our Shepherd,
now and forever.

Amen.


+ Guy Bagnard
Bishop of Belley-Ars

View the French original: http://arsnet.org/151.php


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