PRO MILITIA

ORATIO AD ELIGENDAM VITAE STATVM

Prayer for Choosing a State of Life

This prayer for choosing a state of life, from the Raccolta (1910), asks God for light to know one's vocation and strength to fulfill it. Invoking Christ as 'Way, Truth, and Life,' it explicitly renounces self-will to follow God's path. The Church teaches that each person has a particular calling - whether to marriage, religious life, priesthood, or consecrated single life - and discernment requires both prayer and grace.

LATINE
Deus meus, qui omnium hominum salutem desideras,
et gratiam tuam nemini sincere petenti denegas:
concede mihi, quaeso, lumen ad cognoscendam vocationem meam
et virtutem ad eam implendam.
Domine Iesu Christe, Via, Veritas et Vita:
ne patiaris me decipi suggestionibus mundi, carnis vel diaboli,
sed solum illam viam sequi quam mihi praeparasti.
Illumina intellectum meum, robora voluntatem meam,
purifica cor meum, et sanctifica animam meam.
Me ad pedes tuos proicio, Domine.
Dic mihi quid me facere velis, et id faciam.
Propriam voluntatem omnino renuntio,
ut Tuam in omnibus sequar.
O Maria, Regina omnium Sanctorum,
adiuva me ad discernendam sanctam Dei voluntatem. Amen.
ENGLISH
O my God, Thou Who dost desire the salvation of all men
and Who dost deny Thy grace to no one who seeks it sincerely:
grant me, I beseech Thee, the light necessary to know my vocation
and the strength to fulfill it.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Way, Truth, and Life:
let me not be deceived by the suggestions of the world, the flesh, or the devil,
but only follow that path which Thou hast prepared for me.
Enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will,
purify my heart, and sanctify my soul.
I cast myself at Thy feet, O Lord.
Tell me what Thou dost want me to do, and I will do it.
My own will I renounce entirely,
that I may follow Thine in all things.
O Mary, Queen of all Saints,
help me to discern God's holy will. Amen.
NOTA
FONS
Raccolta (1910), Preces pro eligenda vitae statu
USUS
Vocation discernment, choosing between religious life, priesthood, or marriage
CONTEXT
The Church teaches that each person has a particular vocation. This prayer helps discern whether one is called to marriage, religious life, priesthood, or consecrated single life.