Prayers and Readings from the Liturgy for Vocations to the Society of Jesus
Opening Prayer
Father, you call all who believe in you to grow perfect in love by following in the footsteps of Christ your Son. May those whom you have chosen to serve you as religious provide by their way of life a convincing sign of your kingdom for the Church and the whole world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Readings
Romans 10:9-18. Psalm 67. Luke 4: 16-22.
Prayer of the Faithful
Jesus told his disciples to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to his fields. Heeding his words and seeing the great needs of the world, we ask the Lord to call many to the ministerial priesthood, to religious life and to the Society of Jesus and give them the grace to listen and follow.
That in the light of the needs of the world, God will call into his service as priests and religious many young people who will continue on earth the mission Christ entrusted to his apostles, we pray to the Lord…
That many may be called to the Society of Jesus, that they may live the Ignatian charism and consecrate their whole lives to the service of Jesus and his Church, we pray to the Lord…
Believing that our faithful God is the one who calls, that we may place all our trust in God’s grace and his divine plans for ourselves and the Society of Jesus, we pray to the Lord…
That all Christians’ lives may be authentic and prophetic, manifesting the enthusiasm of the Gospel, we pray to the Lord…
Lord God, who invites all the faithful to reach perfect charity, do not fail to call many to follow more closely in the footsteps of your Son. Give to the Society of Jesus those whom you want to choose for a priestly vocation and to the religious life. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Father, in your love accept the gifts we offer you, and watch over those who wish to follow your Son more closely, and to serve you joyfully in religious life. Give them spiritual freedom and love for their brothers and sisters. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, by the power of this sacrament keep us faithful in your service. May we be witnesses of your love to the world and strive with courage for good things which alone last forever. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
Praying with and for the Society
All of us need the grace, inspiration and strength of God to fulfill the vocation with which God has gifted us. We in the Society of Jesus welcome your prayers for our individual Jesuits and the ministries in which we serve. We invite you to become companions with us in our work as you pray with us and for us that everything we do - in prayer, speech, and action - may give glory to God.
Ignatian Prayers
The Prayer for Generosity
Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give, and not to count the cost;
To fight, and not to heed the wounds;
To toil, and not to seek for rest;
To labor, and to ask for no reward,
Except that of knowing that I am doing your will.
Take, Lord, and Receive
Take, Lord, and receive all my
Liberty, my memory, my understanding
And my entire will, all I have and call my own.
You have given all to me. To you, Lord,
I return it. Everything is yours;
Do with it what you will. Give me only your
Love and your grace, that is enough for me.