Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church recognizes three vocations: single life, married life, and religious life or priesthood. Vocational discernment is the process by which Catholics recognize their vocation in the Church and the world. This process involves prayer and reflection on God's plan for one's life. Various resources are available to support Catholics in vocational discernment, including spiritual directors, vocation directors, and religious communities. Additionally, dioceses, religious institutes, and monasteries offer guidelines and advice for those discerning religious vocations. Promoting vocations within the Catholic Church involves praying for an increase in priestly and consecrated vocations, teaching youth how to pray and discern their vocation, and fostering a vocation culture through regular dialogue about vocations.
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What You'll Learn
Pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life
Prayer is a vital part of Catholic life, and it is also a key way to support vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
Pray for an increase in vocations
One prayer for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life is to ask God to bless a parish and diocese with more men and women for priestly and committed ministry:
> "Loving God, the provider of all our needs, we, your faithful people, ask that you bless this parish and our Diocese with an increase of men and women for priestly and committed ministry. Provide from among us those who will lead and work with us in priestly and consecrated service. As you call, so may you also provide the context for listening so that they may respond with generosity and joy."
Pray for holy priests
Another prayer asks for more priests, but especially holy priests:
> "Lord Jesus, we pray to you for the Catholic priesthood. Give us more priests, but most especially we ask you to give us holy priests. Messengers of a truth that is all-encompassing and eternal, holy priests who know how to offer this truth to the people of their own time and place."
Pray for the missionary vocation
Prayers can also be said for an increase in missionary vocations:
> "Our Lady of Fatima, bring an increase in missionary vocations so that the Christian message will be heard by all nations… O, Mary, intercede for us!"
Pray for the seminarians
Prayers can also be said for the seminarians themselves, asking for perseverance and that they become models of purity and wisdom:
> "Grant perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are carrying out the ideal of a life totally consecrated to your service. [...] O Lord Jesus Christ, great High Priest, I pray that You call many worthy souls to Your holy priesthood. Enlighten the Bishop in the choice of candidates, the Spiritual Director in molding them, and the professors in instructing them. Lead the seminarians daily in Your unerring footsteps; so that they may become priests who are models of purity, possessors of wisdom and heroes of sacrifice."
Pray for families
Families can also be included in prayers, asking that they may discuss vocations to religious life in a positive and encouraging manner:
> "Holy Family, help the families in this parish to discuss vocations to the religious life in a positive, encouraging manner… O, Mary, intercede for us!"
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Teach young people how to pray
Teaching young people how to pray is a challenging task. Prayer is a conversation with God, and it is important to teach young people that God wants to hear from them and that they can talk to Him anywhere and at any time.
To begin with, it can be helpful to explain the 5 Ws and 1 H of prayer: who, what, when, where, why, and how. This will provide a foundation for young people to understand the purpose and practice of prayer. For example, a simple explanation of "who" could be: "Prayer is talking to God. Just like you can talk to me, you can talk to Him. He loves hearing from you!". As children get older, the Scriptures, especially the Psalms, can be introduced to demonstrate the wide range of topics and circumstances that would prompt prayer.
It is important to teach young people to pray with the people of God, in church during worship services, in prayer meetings, and spontaneously when in conversation with someone in need. Biblical examples, such as Nehemiah, who turned to God in prayer while speaking to a king, can be used to illustrate this. Additionally, it is beneficial to encourage young people to set aside time for private prayer and to practice talking to God in various settings, such as at school or with friends.
Another important aspect is teaching young people what they can pray about. They should be encouraged to bring not only their requests but also their praises, laments, confessions, and thanksgiving to God. Expressing our gratitude, sadness, guilt, or needs when praying with young people can help them understand the different purposes of prayer.
Furthermore, it is beneficial to provide young people with resources and examples of how and what to pray. This can include books with creative prayers, such as those offered by the Pastoral Center, or multimedia tools like the "Faith in an Anxious World" curriculum, which combines New Testament stories with discussions about mental health and faithful living. The Ignatian Prayer of Examen, adapted for teenagers as the Daily Replay, is another valuable tool that roots mindfulness in prayer, helping young people manage stress and anxiety.
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Invite active young adults and teens to consider a vocation to the priesthood
One of the most important things to do when inviting young people to consider a vocation to the priesthood is to teach them how to pray. Pope Benedict XVI emphasised that if young people are not taught how to pray, they will never hear God calling them into a deeper relationship with Him and into the discipleship of the Church. Therefore, it is important to encourage young people to spend quiet time with God, reflecting on His call for their life.
Another way to invite young people to consider a vocation to the priesthood is to encourage them to join ministries that allow them to evangelise others. This allows young people to experience the ministry of serving others and bringing others to Christ. It also helps young men to consider if God is calling them to the priesthood. Similarly, young adult groups at parishes can help young people to meet others who are also discerning their next steps and can quickly foster vocations, especially if a parish priest is present in the group at times, encouraging them to a deeper relationship with the Lord.
It is also important to make the priesthood attractive to young people. This can be done by showing the priesthood for what it truly is – a call to be a spiritual father to the whole family of faith. It is also important to emphasise that the seminary or convent is a place of discernment, and that the priesthood is a path to great joy and contentment.
Finally, it can be helpful to invite young people to attend events such as ordinations, which can be incredibly inspiring, or to host a weekly or monthly Teen Bible Study, which can help young people in their relationship with God and may stir in them a desire to serve God as a priest.
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Make it attractive by showing the priesthood for what it is
The priesthood is a unique vehicle for proclaiming God's Good News. Funerals, wakes, and weddings are some of the best times to articulate God's presence. It is a way to show God's love and comfort to those who need it.
The priesthood is a calling that allows one to be of service to others. It is a way to be a part of people's lives during their most vulnerable and intimate moments. For example, a priest can be there for a family as they celebrate a significant event, such as a baptism or a wedding, or during a time of grief and loss at a funeral.
Through the power of the Eucharist, a priest can help people connect with God and find meaning in their lives. It is a privilege to be able to witness and facilitate these moments of deep spiritual connection and transformation.
The priesthood is also a way to be a part of a community and to contribute to its growth. It is a commitment to God and to the people one serves, a way to love and be loved in return. It is a lifelong journey of discovery and exploration of God's goodness, a chance to witness and be a part of His glory.
By highlighting these aspects of the priesthood, one can show it for what it truly is—a noble and fulfilling vocation that allows one to make a positive impact on the lives of others and be a witness to God's love and presence in the world.
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Preach about vocations regularly to create a vocation culture
The Catholic Church recognises three vocations: the single life, married life, and the religious life or priesthood. Vocations must be talked about regularly if a "vocation culture" is to be established in parishes and homes. This means that people need to hear about vocations from priests through homilies, prayers of the faithful, and discussions in the classroom.
The Bible states that Jesus says in Matthew 9:38, "to beg the master of the harvest to send laborers into the vineyard." This highlights the importance of asking for more priests, sisters, and brothers. Pope Benedict XVI emphasised that teaching young people how to pray is essential, as it allows them to hear God's calling and foster a deeper relationship with Him and the Church.
Inviting active young adults and teens to consider a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life is another way to promote vocations. This can be done through simple and sincere comments, such as "I see in you the qualities that would make a good priest, and I want to encourage you to pray about it." Such an approach encourages openness to a religious vocation without being intrusive.
Additionally, it is important to showcase the priesthood and consecrated life accurately. The priesthood is a call to be a spiritual father to the whole family of faith, while the consecrated life for a young woman is a unique call to be united with Christ and a spiritual mother to those she serves. Priests and religious individuals should strive to be joyful models of their vocations.
By preaching about vocations regularly and integrating them into various aspects of parish life, a strong vocation culture can be established, inspiring and guiding individuals towards their specific calling within the Church.
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