PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
RESPONSE: OPEN THE HEARTS OF THE YOUNG TO GOD'S CALL
St. Leonard,
- You believed in the infinite love of God for you
- You experienced the merciful kindness of the Father
- You discovered the sweet tenderness of the Lord
- You lived in reverent attentiveness to the signs of the times
- You accepted every moment as a holy messenger of God=s will
- You surrendered to God=s providence
- You discerned the loving plan of God in all events
- You surrounded yourself with what is noble, true, pure and holy
- You accepted the difficult call of God in your life
RESPONSE: MOLD THE HEARTS OF THE YOUNG TO FOLLOW GOD=S CALL
St. Leonard,
- You perceived the majesty of the creator in the beauty of creation
- You sincerely repented for your unfaithfulness
- You sought guidance from spiritual leaders
- You Exhibited unwavering loyalty to the Pope and the Church
- You taught us to be gentle, prudent, sweet and patient with youth
- You shone as a man of quiet action
- You nourished your faith with an intense love for the Eucharist
- You cultivated an intimate devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus
- You offered yourself as a friend, brother and father to young people
RESPONSE: INSPIRE THE HEARTS OF THE YOUNG TO CONTINUE YOUR MINISTRY.
St. Leonard,
- You dared founding a religious congregation
- You humbled yourself to beg bread for your students
- You privileged the young people most at risk
- You supported the spread of the Catholic press
- You pioneered Catholic social action
- You nurtures a deep affection for the members of your family
- You bore patiently your frequent illnesses
- You suffered the anxiety of unplayable debts
- You chose St. Joseph as the model in the education of young people
PRAYERS REFLECTING ST. LEONARD'S SPIRITUALITY
God,
I love you.
You have been awesome to me,
and I want to love you
with everything that is in me.
I want to do everything
for love of you:
I want to do your will;
to do it whenever you want
and as you want it;
to bear what you want,
as long as you desire.
Amen.
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God,
I am aware that everything that comes my way
comes from you,
and so it must be good.
I firmly believe
that all things in my life
happen for my own good.
I place my life in your hands,
o God,
fully knowing that you love me
more than I love myself.
I surrender myself,
my past , present and future
to your loving care.
Dispose of my life as you wish!
My tomorrow will be safer in your hands
than in my own!
Amen.
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God,
let me tell you how I want to love you.
I want to love you now,
at this very moment
and at every moment.
I want to love you in person,
as a friend I trust,
face to face.
I want to love you with a passion,
and let my love for you be like
a raging fire.
I want to love you tenderly,
ever so intimately,
like a child in his mother’s arms.
Amen.
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Jesus,
I look at the manger in Bethlehem
and what do I see?
Love made flesh for me.
I look at Mount Calvary outside Jerusalem,
and what do I see?
Love crucified for me.
I look at a tabernacle in any church,
and what do I see?
Love forever imprisoned for me.
From these three excesses of love
I begin to see
the extreme love you deserve from me.
Amen.
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God,
creator of the earth,
I honor you
when I honor your creation.
I can read
your immense love for me
in the book of nature.
The vastness and might of the oceans
reflect your infinite power.
The beauty and order of the stars
reveal the splendor of your glory.
The spectacle of the skies,
the earth, the mountains
sing your wisdom.
May I be a flower
in the garden of your creation
immersed in your color and
delighting in your fragrance
all the days of my short existence.
Amen.
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Lord,
teach me to pray,
but to pray well.
Teach me to pray with a pure spirit,
with a humble heart,
with confidence and perseverance.
Warm my life
and make it fruitful
when I pray,
as the sun warms the earth
and make the trees
produce abundantly.
By the prayer I pray,
make me rich
with your grace.
I know that when I pray well,
you are with me,
you take my side,
and I become the most powerful person on earth
for you give me to share
your very power.