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January 9th - 14th, 2012 is National Vocation Awareness Week. In reality one could simply call it "Living Your Baptism Week" as our call from God comes out of our being made sons and daughters of God through our baptism.
Too often when I visit with people about vocations they immediately tell me they are not called to the priesthood or consecrated life as if that is the only reason I was talking to them in the first place.
This mentality is at the root of our struggle with vocations. Our culture has this mindset that only those thinking about the priesthood or consecrated life need to visit wtih God about their future. It is my hope during this upcoming week is that more people will begin to see the reality of every one's need to hear Christ's call for their particulre life.
Have you ever met a person convicted of their calling in life? They become attractive to others by their shear auora of self confidence. They are not beaten down by defeat or seeming failure. Instead they see it as a simple stumbling block along the way to success.
This is what God wants for each and every one of us. He wants us to know the vocation He has planned for our lives and for us to live with that conviction. This week is an opportunity for each of us to reflect on our own calling by Christ and to share with others the gift it is to know God's will for our particular lives.
Here are some practical tips for discernment:
1. Go to confession - a clean soul and a clear conscience is far more receptive to hearing God's voice in our lives.
2. Find 15 mintues of silence where you can invite Christ to speak to your heart.
3. Ask others to pray for you. Discernment should not be done in isolation.
4. Talk to others living their vocation about how they came to know God's will.
5. Trust that God desires to help you but that you might need to be patient.
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Lord give me the gift of a generous heart to follow Your will as I journey the path of life. You set before me the voctions of priesthood, diaconate, religious life, generous single life and marriage. Grant me the grace and generosity I need to answer Your call.
Amen
By offering this prayer from your heart, wherever your path leads, whatever vocation you choose, you will help build a great Church for tomorrow.
Prayer Calendars
We have put the various prayer calendars for our Religious, Deacons, Priests and Seminarians on the Resource page found below. Let us keep each other in prayer.
Events
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