Prayers
A Prayer for Discernment (Vasily Drosdov Philaret)
O Lord, I do not know what to ask You.
You alone know my real needs, and You love me more than I even know how to love.
Enable me to discern my true needs which are hidden from me.
I ask for neither cross nor consolation; I wait in patience for You.
My heart is open to You.
For Your great mercy's sake, come to me and help me.
Put Your mark on me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up.
Silently I adore Your holy will and Your inscrutable ways.
I offer myself in sacrifice to You and put all my trust in You.
I desire only to do Your will.
Teach me how to pray and pray in me yourself.
Amen.
Discernment Prayer (Sisters of Notre Dame)
Walk with me, good and loving God, as I journey through life.
May I take Your hand and be led by Your Holy Spirit.
Fill me, inspire me, free me to respond generously to Your call.
For I believe You desire my deepest joy,
And it is only in Your company
That my soul will be satisfied
And my life will find its meaning and purpose.
Amen.
Prayer of Discernment Said Before the Crucifix (St. Francis)
Most High, glorious God,
Enlighten the darkness of my heart,
And give me right faith,
Certain hope,
And perfect charity,
Wisdom and understanding,
Lord, that I may carry out
Your holy and true command.
Amen.
Prayer for Abandonment (Ven. Charles de Foucauld)
Father, I abandon myself into Your hands;
Do with me what You will.
Whatever You do may I thank You:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only Your will be done in me, and in all Your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into Your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to You with all the love of my heart, for I love You, Lord,
And so need to give myself to You, to surrender myself into Your hands,
Without reserve and without boundless confidence, for You are my Father.
Amen.
Prayer to Know One’s Vocation (Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus)
Lord, my God and my loving Father, you have made me to know You, to love You, to serve You,
And thereby to find and fulfill myself.
I know that You are in all things, and that every path can lead me to You,
But of them all, there is one especially by which You want me to come to You.
Since I will do what You want of me, I pray You, send Your Holy Spirit to me: into my mind,
To show me what You want of me; into my heart,
To give me the determination to do it,
And to do it with all my love, with all my mind,
And with all my strength right to the end.
Amen.
Prayer for Vocations (Pope John Paul II)
Holy Father, look upon this humanity of ours, that is taking its first steps along the path of the third millennium.
Its life is still deeply marked by hatred, violence and oppression, but the thirst for justice, truth and grace still finds a space in the hearts of many people, who are waiting for someone to bring salvation, enacted by You through Your Son, Jesus.
There is the need for courageous heralds of the Gospel, for generous servants of suffering humanity.
Send holy priests to Your Church, we pray, who may sanctify Your people with the tools of Your grace.
Send numerous consecrated men and women, that they may show Your holiness in the midst of the world.
Send holy labourers into Your vineyard, that they may labour with the fervour of charity and, moved by Your Holy Spirit, may bring the salvation of Christ to the farthest ends of the Earth.
Amen.
Prayer to Do God’s Will (Thomas Merton)
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following Your will
Does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You
Does in fact please You.
And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road
Though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust You always though,
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
And You will never leave me to face my struggles alone.
Amen.
Prayer for Discernment (Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus)
God our Father,
You have a plan for each one of us,
You hold out to us a future full of hope.
Give us the wisdom of Your Spirit
So that we can see the shape of Your plan
In the gifts You have given us,
And in the circumstances of our daily lives.
Give us the freedom of Your Spirit,
To seek You with all our hearts,
And to choose Your will above all else.
We make this prayer through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Prayer of St. Ignatius
Dearest Jesus, teach me to be generous
Teach me to love and 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 labour and to look for no reward,
Except that of knowing that I do Your Holy Will.
Amen
Prayer of St. Therese of Lisieux
May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
Prayer for Discernment
Lord I know that You love me, and that You have great plans for me.
But sometimes I am overwhelmed by the thought of my future.
Show me how to walk forward one day at a time.
As I explore the various options which lie before me, help me to listen openly to others,
and to pay attention to what is in the depth of my own heart.
In this way, may I hear Your call to a way of life which will allow me to love as only I can,
and allow me to serve others with the special gifts You have given me.
Amen.
Prayer to Follow the Call of Christ (St. Columban’s Mission Society)
Lord, I thank You for the gifts You have given me,
Especially for life, love, family and friends.
Help me to know myself better and to know my talents,
As I pray, study and decide on my life’s work.
Help me to see and understand the path You open for me.
Help me choose a life’s work which will develop all my potential
And enable me to respond fully to Your love for me.
In whatever way You are inviting me to follow You
Give me a generous heart to respond to Your challenging call
And the strength to follow You wherever You lead me.
Amen.
Prayer to Know One’s Vocation (St. Columban’s Mission Society)
Loving God, You have called me to life
And gifted me in many ways.
Help me to become all You desire of me.
Lead me to choose the path of life You have planned for me.
Open my heart to listen to Your call
And guide me with Your Holy Spirit
That I may have the courage to respond to You.
Enkindle in my heart and the hearts of others
The desire to make the world a better place.
Amen.
