Prayers for Vocations

We generally think of those in the church (priests, deacons, sisters, etc.) as very holy people.  But they are simply regular people just like you and me.  True, they have made a commitment to do the work of Jesus through the church, but they are human with the same temptations and dreams that the rest of us have.  That is one of the reasons that our parish has started passing a Vocations Cross around to families asking them to pray for those in or seeking vocations for a week.

We recently brought this cross home with us and the box that it's kept in also contained a beautiful Rosary where each of the decades was dedicated to a different vocation.  We prayed for seminarians, brothers, deacons, sisters and priests.  The first night that the cross was in our home, we sat around the dinner table and prayed the Rosary together.  It had been a long time since we'd done this together as a family and it was great.  The kids got antsy after awhile (they've heard me pray the Rosary at our Pray and Play group, but they're allowed to play while that's going on).  But we finished it and the other nights of the week, we prayed a simple prayer for vocations that we also say at Mass.

It was really very special because we explained to Joey (Abi's too young to understand) how those in the church need our prayers to keep the fire alive that they have for Christ.  It's not an easy road that they travel, but it's important and we need these folks.  We're very blessed to know some men and women in the vocations and it was great to pray for them specifically.  Joey is very blessed because his Godfather is in the seminary to become a deacon.  Joey was so excited to pray for Uncle Brian.  Brian, if you're reading this, thank you for your dedication to the church.  We'll continue praying for you even though the cross has been turned back in for another family.

I believe it's these little things that we participate in that will give the kids a stronger faith.  Giving them something to touch and see, like a cross or Rosary will become a concrete memory for them and it will stick with them as they grow.

If you go to MQP, please consider taking home the Vocations Cross.  It was definitely a worthwhile experience for our whole family.