The First Day: Vocation – The Call
Jesus said: “What are you looking for…come and see…”
From the Gospel according to John:
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
Let us Pray,
Holy Father,
We come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest. Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make of their whole life a total oblation to you, to become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and to proclaim the Gospel. May they burn with the same fire that you enkindled in Saint Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption.
Mary Immaculate,
Who first gave Jesus to the world, be with us as we pray. Amen
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Saint Eugene de Mazenod… Pray for us
Blessed Joseph Gerard… Pray for us
Blessed Joseph Cebula… Pray for us
Blessed Francis Esteban and his Companions… Pray for us
Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Laos …Pray for us
Praised be Jesus Christ… and Mary Immaculate
Amen
The Second Day: Vocation – The Sending
Jesus said: “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to the harvest”
From the Gospel according to Matthew:
Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time”.
Let us Pray,
Holy Father,
We come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest.
Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make of their whole life a total oblation to you, to become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and to proclaim the Gospel.
May they burn with the same fire that you enkindled in Saint Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption.
Mary Immaculate,
Who first gave Jesus to the world, be with us as we pray.
Amen
The Third Day: Vocation – The Challenge
Jesus said: “You did not choose me, I chose you… to go forth and bear fruit in abundance”
From St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans:
All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. How are they to call on Him if they do not believe? How can they believe in Him if they have never heard of Him? How can they hear of Him unless someone preaches? And how will there be preachers unless they be sent? Scripture says: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.’ Faith comes through the Word of God.
Let us Pray,
Holy Father,
God of joyful hope and faithful love: you call us to share fully in the mission of your Son. In this time of great promise and change inspire us to be witnesses to the power and presence of Jesus. May we love and respect all you have created and be disciples of the Good News especially among the dispossessed. Guided by the Holy Spirit, may others be inspired to leave everything for the Gospel, by becoming Oblates of Mary Immaculate. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Forth Day: Vocation – The Mission
Jesus said: “Come follow me” …They left everything and followed him…”
From the Gospel according to Luke:
Jesus came to Nazareth and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. He stood up to read from the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written -“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor; to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind and to set the downtrodden free.”
Let us Pray,
Holy Father,
God our Father, you have loved us so much that you sent your only Son to be our savior; stir up the grace of a holy vocation in the hearts of many young men. May they have the generosity and willingness to serve you with their whole lives as Oblates of Mary Immaculate and win many over to the love of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Fifth Day: Vocation – The Gift
Jesus said: “He who loses his life for my sake and for the Gospel … will truly find it.”
From the Gospel according to Matthew:
The Kingdom of God is like a buried treasure which someone found in a field. He hid it again, and rejoicing at his fortune, went and sold all he had and bought that field. Or again, the Kingdom of god is like a merchant’s search for fine pearls. When he found one really valuable pearl, he went back and sold all he owned and he bought the pearl.
Let us Pray,
Holy Father,
We pray: Stir up the flame of faith and the fire of love in the hearts of young men and inspire them to dedicate themselves to your service with unbounded confidence and zeal. Through the intercession of Our Immaculate Mother bring a great many vocations to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate so that the work of the Congregation may continue.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
The Sixth Day: Vocation – The Ideal
Jesus said: “If someone wishes to come after me … He must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”
From the Gospel according to Mark:
Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee and he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come follow me. I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately abandoned their nets and became his followers.
Let us Pray,
Holy Father,
Jesus our Lord and brother, you still extend your invitation to discipleship in our day. May there be many who would hear your call and find within themselves the generosity and faith to respond. Raise up men to service at your altar, men of hope and dedication who will follow you without reserve as Oblates of Mary Immaculate and who will serve your people with joyful love.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
The Seventh Day: Vocation – The Ideal
Jesus said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord…Let it be done according to your Word”
From the Gospel according to Saint Luke:
The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of Most High will cover you with His shadow. Thus, the Child will be holy and will be called the Son of God… There is nothing impossible with God. Mary responded: “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you have said”.
Let us Pray,
Holy Father,
Father, you continue to call men to total service, commitment and dedication: men open to the Spirit who will bring forth Jesus in the world today through the gift of priestly ministry and religious life. May those You call hear your gentle voice and have the courage to respond with whole hearted confidence and trust. Stir up the grace of a vocation in the hearts of many generous young men so the work of the Oblates may both continue and flourish in the Church.
Amen.
The Eighth Day: Vocation – The Charism
Jesus said: “He sent me to bring Good News to the Poor…The Poor have heard Good News”
From the Prophet Isaiah:
The Spirit of the Lord has been given me. He has anointed me. He has sent me to bring Good News to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to the imprisoned…to comfort those who mourn… He sent me to restore the ancient ruins and rebuilt the cities that had been destroyed.
Let us Pray,
Holy Father,
You chose Eugene de Mazenod and inspired him with wonderful love for the poor and gave him the gift of touching their hearts. May the Oblate sons of Eugene continue, increase and flourish in the Church. May they never cease proclaiming the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor in imitation of their founder. Raise up zealous men of faith to the Oblate family for the glory of your name.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
The Ninth Day: Vocation – The Encounter
Jesus said: “By your holy cross, you have redeemed the world. ”
From St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians:
When I came among you it was not to preach myself but Jesus Christ… I did not come proclaiming God’s word with any particular eloquence. I was determined to speak only of Jesus Christ and him crucified. As a consequence, your faith rests not on human wisdom, but on the power of God… For the cross of Christ is a stumbling block to the Jews, an absurdity to the Greeks; but to those who are called, the cross is the wisdom and the power of God.
Let us Pray,
Lord Jesus,
You redeemed the world by your passion and love. The depth of your love is revealed in your suffering. May there be young men raised up in the Church who are inspired by your love to give themselves, their time and their talents, – indeed, their whole lives – to your service. May your Oblate Congregation grow in numbers and with strength and holiness as it continues to share your love with the poorest and most abandoned.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen.