The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publically fulfill the Lord’s instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to the Religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of mission "ad gentes".
This year marks the 51st Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The above information was obtained from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website. For more information on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations as well as other resources on vocations, visit www.usccb.org/vocations.
