Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius
October 15, 2017
Spiritual Ponderings
Images of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
Let us continue our efforts to deepen our relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
 
St John Vianney:
“Let us live as the Blessed Virgin lived: loving God only, desiring God only, trying to please God only in all that we do.”
 
Our Lady of Vocations:
This title of Mary comes to the Church from the Rogationsists Fathers and the Daughters of Divine Zeal whose primary focus (apostolate) is the promotion of vocation.  Their founder, St. Hannibal Mary Di Francia, founded these religious orders.  There are many images of the Blessed Virgin Mary that fall under this title of Mary.  Most of them deal with Mary inspiring and protecting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. 
 
Archbishop Carlson has stated on a couple of different occasions that if each parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis would produce one seminarian every ten years, the shortage of priests would come to an end in our Archdiocese.  (Please note that this is one seminarian and not one priest).  We would think that each parish could produce one seminarian every ten years but sadly we are not.  We therefore too should pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary to help increase vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  We can also help increase vocations to the priesthood and religious life by praying by name for an individual who we think maybe a good priest, inviting and supporting our young people to think about the priesthood and religious life, and by letting people know how much you value the Sacraments. 
 
Prayer For Vocations:
Hail Mary, full of grace; all generations call you blessed. Hail Mother of God; when asked by the angel to bear the Son of the Most High, filled with faith, you responded: "Let it be done unto me." Holy Mother of Jesus, at the wedding feast at Cana, you prompted your Son to perform his first sign. Be with us as we discern our life's work and guide us in the way we are called to follow in the footsteps of your Son. Holy Mother of the Savior, at the foot of the cross you mourned the death of your only Son. Bless and embrace the loving parents of all priests, deacons, brothers and sisters. Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd, turn your motherly care to this nation. Intercede for us to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers to the harvest in this land dedicated to your honor.  Queen of Peace, Mirror of Justice, Health of the Sick, inspire vocations in our time.

Let the word of your Son be made flesh anew in the lives of persons anxious to proclaim the good news of everlasting life. Amen.
 
Prayer for Vocations:
Lord  Jesus Christ, Savior of the world! We humbly beg of Thee to manifest in Thy Church the  Spirit Whom Thou didst so abundantly bestow upon Thy Apostles. Call, we pray Thee, very many to Thy  priesthood and to the religious life. And may  zeal for Thy  glory and the  salvation of souls inflame those whom Thou hast chosen; may they be saints in Thy likeness, and may Thy  Spirit strengthen them. O Jesus, give us priests and religious according to Thine own Heart! 
O Mary, Mother of Jesus! Obtain for fervent souls the  grace to hear and the courage to follow thy Divine Son in the path of religious perfection. 
Queen of Apostles, pray for us. 
Queen of Virgins, pray for us