Pray for Vocations

The author of A Catholic Life blog (see my links section) has created an outstanding website about our Catholic faith. He goes by the name of Moneybags.

Moneybags was kind enough to create a link between our two respective blogs and so I am pleased to return the favor. He is also discerning a vocation to the priesthood.

So in his honor and to spiritually aid him in his most worthy endeavors and to aid all those whom God is calling, I am proud to post up this prayer for vocations by Pope Benedict XVI:

O Father,
raise up among Christians
numerous and holy vocations to the priesthood,
to keep the faith alive
and guard the gracious memory of your Son Jesus
through the preaching of his word
and the administration of the Sacraments,
with which you continually renew your faithful.
Give us holy ministers of your altar,
who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist,
the sacrament of the supreme gift of Christ
for the redemption of the world.
Call ministers of your mercy, who,
through the sacrament of Reconciliation,
spread the joy of your forgiveness.
Grant, O Father,
that the Church may welcome with joy
numerous inspirations of the Spirit of your Son
and, docile to His teachings,
may she care for vocations to the ministerial priesthood
and to the consecrated life.
Sustain the Bishops,
priests and deacons,
consecrated men and women,
and all the baptized in Christ,
so that they may faithfully fulfil their mission at the service of the Gospel.
This we pray You through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us.

Pope Benedict XVI,
(Message of the Holy Father for the 43rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations)
(The Holy Father's Message is posted at www.usccb.org/vocations)