Prayer for Vocations Sunday

Prayer for Vocations Sunday

This Sunday, May 11, is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. I am asking for all of us to offer up our Prayers and also encourage those men and women in our lives to pursue their vocations. We need these holy examples in the world today. Sometimes a simple question of "Have you ever thought of a Vocation to the Priesthood or Religious Life", will spark an interest. Some may say that a person knows if it is there in them and I will say that maybe that was the case years ago when times were different. Times where it was the norm of families to have a Priest or Religious in their families. A time when a vocation to the religious life held more appeal then the might of the dollar. A time when there was less noise and gave people the time to listen to their hearts.  A time when church and faith was number one in the family's daily life. 

   Times are different and with that comes the need for prayers and encouragement. Offer those around you the idea of a life in the Church. Let them know that if that is what they want, and feel this is the life they desire, that you will support them in this choice. Believe me, knowing you have support is a blessing. Knowing that people are being positive and praying for you is a great aid in the discernment of a vocation. Ask questions. Encourage. Pray. 

    The Bishop of my dioceses, Trenton Dioceses, Bishop O'Connell wrote a message concerning World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is inspiring and encouraging. To read this message click here. Also our Pope, Pope Francis has also written a message and is also inspiring and encouraging. To read Pope Francis message click here.  The Seminarians from the Dioceses of Raleigh have a video that is encouraging to watch and to view the video click here. Also from the Dioceses of Raleigh a video with the Bishop speaking about what this day is about and how we are all called to do to support these vocations. Please click here to view the video. 

      There are over forty prayers for vocation and they can be found by clicking here. Each of the prayers are from different perspectives. Some prayers are from a church, personal and family perspective. I ask from the bottom of my heart for each of us to use these prayers and share them with others. 

      I have shared a video about the Priesthood on the blog before but I again feel the need to post it because I know how it spoke to me and feel the importance of it again. So, even if you have seen it before check it out again and more importantly share it with others. To see the video click here. I have also come across a series of Seminarian's discussing their vocations stories. They are great short four - five minute stories of their lives. To check them out click here. 

      For myself looking for information and searching some videos really makes me see how prayers and support are so key to the discernment of a vocation. Yes, it comes from within and only you can decide in the end, yet knowing there is others praying for you makes things a bit easier. So, pray pray pray for people to follow their hearts desire and follow whatever the vocation is that comes from their heart. Thank You for all the prayers for vocations. 

Until tomorrow,God Bless, and may we all pray for and follow the vocation of our lives. 

Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Lectionary: 277

Reading 1

ACTS 9:1-20

Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord,

went to the high priest and asked him

for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that,

if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way,

he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. 

On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus,

a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. 

He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him,

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

He said, “Who are you, sir?” 

The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 

Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” 

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless,

for they heard the voice but could see no one.

Saul got up from the ground,

but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing;

so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.

For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias,

and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” 

He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 

The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight

and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul.

He is there praying,

and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias

come in and lay his hands on him,

that he may regain his sight.”

But Ananias replied,

“Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man,

what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.

And here he has authority from the chief priests

to imprison all who call upon your name.” 

But the Lord said to him,

“Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine

to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel,

and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” 

So Ananias went and entered the house;

laying his hands on him, he said,

“Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me,

Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came,

that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 

Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes

and he regained his sight. 

He got up and was baptized,

and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.

He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,

and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues,

that he is the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 117:1BC, 2

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

glorify him, all you peoples!

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

or:

R. Alleluia.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,

and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Gospel

JN 6:52-59

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,

“How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” 

Jesus said to them,

“Amen, amen, I say to you,

unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood,

you do not have life within you. 

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood

has eternal life,

and I will raise him on the last day.

For my Flesh is true food,

and my Blood is true drink. 

Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood

remains in me and I in him.

Just as the living Father sent me

and I have life because of the Father,

so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 

This is the bread that came down from heaven. 

Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,

whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.