The former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey once described Anglican religious orders as being ‘the best kept secret in the Church of England.’ This is a great shame! Religious Life offers some of the richest experiences of Christian service and worship.

We are going to share our experiences and stories with you!

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Vocation means what you are called by God to be and do. Finding yours starts with prayer.

A Prayer for Vocations to the Religious Life

Lord Jesus Christ

In your great love you draw all people to yourself;

And in your wisdom you call us to your service.

We pray at this time you will kindle in the hearts of men and women

the desire to follow you in the Religious life.

Give to those whom you call, grace to accept their vocation readily

and thankfully, to make the whole-hearted surrender

which you ask of them, and for love of you, to persevere to the end.

This we ask in your name.

Amen.

A NOVENA OF PRAYER FOR THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

Day 1: 2 Thessalonians 1: 3

We give thanks for Religious communities throughout the world.

Day 2: Romans 14: 7–9

We give thanks for members in our communities who have died.

Day 3: Acts 15: 36–40

We pray for those who have left our communities.

Day 4: Ephesians 4: 1–6

We give thanks for our own vocations.

Day 5: 1 Thessalonians 5: 12–14

We pray for our leaders and for all who make decisions.

Day 6: Titus 2: 7–9

We pray for novice guardians and all who teach in our way of life.

Day 7: 1 Corinthians 12: 27–31

We pray that we will be faithful in our vows.

Day 8: Acts 2: 44–47

We pray for all who seek to know and to do your will and that men and women will be led to join our communities.

Day 9: 2 Corinthians 4: 16–18

We recognise the future is in God’s hands. We pray that the Holy Spirit will help and support us as we live in the Light of Christ.

(Source: Anglican Religious Life 2016–17, Canterbury Press, Norwich 2015)

Prayer of Charles de Foucauld

Father,
I abandon myself into Your hands,
do with me what You will.
For whatever You may do, I thank You.
I am ready for all, I accept all,
let only Your will be done in me,
as in all Your creatures:
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into Your hands I commend my soul
I offer it to You with all the love of my heart.
For I love, You, my God,
and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your
hands without reserve and with boundless confidence,
for You are my Father.

Amen

Prayer of Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are with me, and you will never leave me to face my struggles alone.

Amen

Below is a list of useful Scriptural Passages. These are about being ‘called’.

Read over one or two of these passages slowly. Sit quietly and invite the LORD to speak to you.

• The Call of Abraham: Genesis 12
• The Call of Moses: Exodus 3
• The Call of Samuel: 1 Samuel 3.1-10
• The Call of Saul: 1 Samuel 9-10
• The Call of David: 1 Samuel 16.1-13
• The Call of Isaiah: Isaiah 6.1-8
• The Call of Jeremiah: Jeremiah 1.4-9
• The Call of Jonah: Jonah 3
• The Call of Mary: Luke 1.26-38
• The Call of Peter: Luke 5.1-11
• The Call of the First Disciples: John 1.35-46
• The Call of Mary Magdalene: John 20.1-18
• The Call of Peter: John 21.15-19
• The Great Commission: Matthew 28.18-20
• The Call of Paul: Acts 9.1-22
• The Call of Lydia: Acts 16.11-15
• The Christian Calling: Ephesians 1.3-14

We call the process of listening to God about what to do with our lives ‘discernment’.

• You may feel certain about what God is calling you to, or you may be quite unsure.
• You may feel confident and excited, or you may be confused and reluctant.
• Maybe a number of people have been saying to you ‘have you ever thought of …?
• Maybe you have had an experience of God speaking clearly.
• Or maybe you have a persistent nagging feeling that what you are currently doing ‘is not enough’.

So what should you do next?

• Pray through what you are thinking and feeling. Ask God to guide you.
• Talk with someone who knows you well. Speak to your parish priest or chaplain