The Curé d'Ars Prayer Group

For the bishop and priests of the Raleigh, NC Diocese.

Devotions

It is God who chooses the state of life in which He wishes each one to serve Him. God directs us to the state in which He wishes us to serve and honor Him by the desires He puts into our hearts, by the counsel and advice of those whom He has placed over and around us, by the health and talent He has given us and by the opportunities He causes to come our way. And God gives to each one who does His will all that is needed to serve Him well and gain Heaven.

-- Vocations, Father Richard Felix, O.S.B.

Thou Art a Priest Forever Prayer for Youth to Beg the Divine Direction in the Choice of a State of Life

O Almighty God! Whose wise and amiable providence watches over every human event, deign to be my light and my counsel in all my undertakings, particularly in the choice of a state of life. I know that on this important step my sanctification and salvation may in a great measure depend. I know that I am incapable of discerning what may be best for me; therefore, I cast myself into Thy arms, beseeching Thee, my God, Who hast sent me into this world only to love and serve Thee, to direct by Thy grace every moment and action of my life to the glorious end of my creation. I renounce most sincerely every other wish, than to fulfill Thy designs on my soul, whatever they may be; and I beseech Thee to give me the grace, by imbibing the true spirit of a Christian, to qualify myself for any state of life to which Thy adorable Providence may call me. O my God! Whenever it may become my duty to make a choice, do Thou be my light and my counsel, and mercifully deign to make the way known to me wherein I should walk, for I have lifted up my soul to Thee. Preserve me from listening to the suggestions of my own self-love, or worldly prudence, in prejudice to Thy holy inspirations. Let Thy good Spirit lead me into the right way, and let Thy adorable Providence place me, not where I may be happiest, according to the world, but in that state in which I shall love and serve Thee most perfectly, and meet with most abundant means for working out my salvation. This is all that I ask and all that I desire; for what would it avail me to gain the whole world, if, in the end, I were to lose my soul? and to be so unfortunate as to prefer temporal advantages and worldly honors to the enjoyment of Thy divine presence in a happy eternity?

Most holy Virgin Mary, take me under thy protection.
My good angel guardian and patron saints, pray for me.

The Catholic Girlʼs Guide Counsels and Devotions for Girls in the Ordinary Walks of Life, and in Particular for the Children of Mary, Rev. Fr. Francis Xavier Lasance, 1906.

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