Prayer for Vocations in the Context of Today (Text only)

Extract from the homily of Pope Francis on Palm Sunday/World Youth Day, April 5, 2020

“Dear friends, look at the real heroes who come to light in these days: they are not famous, rich and successful people; rather, they are those who are giving themselves in order to serve others. Feel called yourselves to put your lives on the line. Do not be afraid to devote your life to God and to others; it pays! For life is a gift we receive only when we give ourselves away, and our deepest joy comes from saying yes to love, without ifs and buts. To truly say yes to love, without ifs and buts. As Jesus did for us.”

Let’s make the Pope’s invitation a prayer:

 

Lord Jesus, who gave your life for us,

in infinite love, without “ifs” and “buts,”

touch the hearts of many young people,

in the same way that you touched the heart of Peter, Andrew, James, John, of Mary Magdalene, of Eugene de Mazenod, of Joseph Gerard, of Joseph Cebula, of the young Oblate martyrs of Spain, of the young Oblate martyrs of Laos.

Through the sorrow, the loneliness, the sufferings and the deaths of many people in our world today,

show to young people the only thing that is important and lasting:

not fame, nor material goods, nor success,

but giving of themselves to serve others.

May they feel themselves called to risk their lives without fear for God and the welfare of others as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Allow them to discover that it is in giving that they receive, and that their deepest joy is to respond unconditionally in love as you did for us.

You who rose from the dead for our salvation

and live with the Father and the Holy Spirit

now and forever. Amen. 

Mary Immaculate, model and guardian of our consecrated life, pray for us.