We Have Been the Recipients of Those Prayers

Last Thursday, our prior here at the Dominican House of Studies started his chapter talk to the friars with these words, “You know all the people who pray daily for an increase in vocations? We must be grateful to God…we have been the recipients of those prayers.” He then read this:

“Their entire heart and spirit should be filled with an amazed and deeply felt
gratitude, an unshakeable trust and hope, because those who have been called
know that they are rooted not in their own strength but in the unconditional
faithfulness of God who calls.”        –Pastores Dabo Vobis
                                                                     Blessed John Paul II

For all those who pray for vocations…thank you.    As many of you know, in recent years, the Lord has blessed us with many vocations (we are running out of room at the Dominican House of Studies, just a few years after building an addition to our priory).
     Your prayers have a large part to play in this.  I know that all the activity that goes into promoting vocations is minimal in importance compared to the power of prayer and the infinite power of God’s grace moving the hearts of young men to generously consecrate their lives for the work of Evangelization.
     It is very humbling for me to be entrusted with the task of guiding young men to the Dominicans, and I can say that your prayers have very been helpful for me personally and for the brethren, as we collectively work to further our charism by bringing many more men to carry out the holy preaching for the salvation of souls. So again, thank you and please continue.

Prayer for 2012 National Vocations Awareness Week

“O God, Father of all Mercies,
Provider of a bountiful Harvest,
send Your Graces upon those You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor;
preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.

Open the hearts of Your children
that they may discern Your Holy Will;
inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves
to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.

Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life
guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.

Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,
all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers
and grant Your Church’s needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.