1. Parents' Prayer 

Lord Jesus Christ, you sanctified family life in Nazareth and gave us Mary and Joseph as an outstanding example of unselfish love for children. We ask you to fill our home with your grace and blessings. Help us to educate our children in a Christian manner and may our love for each other be sacrificial, tender and pure. Grant us the gift of making a truly Christian family, a small domestic Church.  

We pray that our children will grow up healthy in body and soul, that they will learn to love you with simplicity, and never be separated from you. They belong to you, for you have given them to us and if you wish to call any one of them to your service, granting them the gift of a vocation, we will willingly offer you whatever sacrifice their physical separation from us will mean.  

Deign, Lord, to set your eyes on our home and choose one of our children for yourself. It is the best gift you could offer us, since we know for sure that he will be happy with you and do much good for the Church by giving his life for you and your Kingdom.  

2. Young People's Prayer 

Lord Jesus, I come before you to reflect on life, on others, on myself, and on the many things that I cannot grasp about you, the world around me, and myself. I would like to do great things for you and for others, so that my part in history will not be in vain. I know that Life and Truth abide in you, so I come to drink from the only Wellspring capable of quenching my thirst for truth, goodness and beauty.  

Today I pray in a special way for those who are young like me and hear in their hearts your call to the priesthood or consecrated life. It mustn't be easy for them to leave everything to follow you. They must find it hard to leave family, boyfriends or girlfriends, or others ...  

Yet I understand perfectly those who are capable of leaving everything to follow you; you are the treasure for which it is well worthwhile to sell everything so as not to lose you. They will walk the world preaching your Gospel, soothing the bitterness of many human lives with your Word, and giving some hope to many people, to the thousands upon thousands of young people who have nothing to live for, no sense of transcendence and do not know true love. They will spread the perfume of your message of joy, peace and hope throughout a world that seems condemned to bitterness and hatred. They will console those who endure sorrow, strengthen the weak, spread your grace and forgiveness. I even envy them. I do not know what answer I would give if I felt your call. The only thing I would pray for then is what I now ask of you for the young people who can hear you now: generosity, courage, boldness, and faith.  

You are truly capable of filling a life, giving it meaning, and making it bear fruit. Grant us priests after your own heart. Move the hearts of young people so that they will not hesitate to leave their nets when you stop at the shore of their lives, look on them, pronounce their names which you have held in your heart from all eternity, and say gently but firmly - with your powerful Word that created heaven - "Follow me."  

3. Prayer When You Are Thinking of a Vocation 

Lord Jesus, I have waited a long time for this moment. I have needed time to speak with you alone and especially to listen to you. The truth, to be honest, is that you do not stop sending me messages.  

The problem is that I do not always want to receive them. At times I drown them out with music, friends, noise... Nonetheless, I cannot deny it - I feel a great emptiness, even though it doesn't show with others. Yet then, when your calm invitation "Follow me" comes, my heart overflows with light and peace. As soon as I hear this invitation in the depths of my conscience, my heart trembles at the thought that you have chosen me from among hundreds and thousands of young people.  

But why, Lord? Why me? What is special about me that you would call me to follow you as your chosen apostle? Then the calling of your first disciples comes to mind and I tell myself, "And what was so special about Peter, James, John, and Andrew...? Weren't they men like everyone else? Weren't they sinners like everyone else? Weren't they weak, traitorous and cowardly like everyone else? Yet you chose them: "You did not choose me, no, I chose you."  

It amazes me to think that these poor fishermen from the Sea of Tiberius did not hesitate to leave on the shore, dead forever, the nets that represented their whole life. And I find it so hard to leave my family, the comforts of home, my girlfriend's (boyfriend's) attachment, my career prospects, my personal plans, my freedom... But on the other hand you also attract me and you attract me with a special force since you are much more than any person or thing in this world. Your personality, your generosity to the extreme, your tenderness toward us, the gentleness of your heart, and the greatness of your Kingdom all attract me.  

I know I will find true happiness at your side; I know you will quench my thirst for eternity, and that with you I will leave a permanent mark as I pass through this world, doing good in your name. But I am afraid. It frightens me to set out on an adventure where I risk everything, even though I know I can also gain everything.  

Lord, grant me generosity to throw myself after you without hesitation, to cut the moorings that bind me to the shore and keep me from pulling out into the sea of the world with you as the captain of my ship. Give me courage, give me strength. I know I will not have visions, apparitions, or anything of the kind. Yet your voice will not cease to call within my soul with a clarity that leaves no room for doubts; "Follow me" will be your invitation.  

I will follow you, Lord. I will follow you wherever you go, and wherever you take me. I will go with you, carrying my cross and rising with you in order to save the world. Only three things I ask of you: grant me faith, grant me generosity, grant me courage; in a word, grant me love.