Feast of the Presentation

Happy Feast of the Presentation!

Today the Church gives thanks to God for the gift of vocations to consecrated life. In 1997, Pope John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. The pope chose the feast of the Presentation because, “This Gospel scene reveals the mystery of Jesus, the One consecrated by the Father, come into this world to carry out his will faithfully.” The celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is transferred to the following Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church.

John Paul indicated the purpose of the day was three-fold:

~to answer the intimate need to praise the Lord more solemnly and to thank him for the great gift of consecrated life ... a gift which comes from on high;

~to promote a knowledge of and esteem for the consecrated life by the entire people of God;

~and for those living the consecrated life to celebrate together solemnly the marvels which the Lord has accomplished in them.

 Please pray for those who have been given this particular vocation. May they continue to respond with faithful love! Lord, give us holy vocations! 

Prayer For Consecrated People

  (*W. Giaquinta) 

Lord Jesus, You are the One called by the Father.

Born of a consecrated Virgin, You have always longed to have

consecrated people beside You.

Return into our midst

with Your gaze that loves and calls.

We ask this for the sake of our brothers and sisters

who today, more than ever before, need consecrated people.

For families, for the sick, for children,

and for the aged who are abandoned:

we ask you for the gift of vocations.

You know how much the world today wounds our hearts,

how difficult it is to listen to Your voice.

You know our frailties and our attraction to the joy of

this earth:

talk, call, shout your love, give Your Spirit

so that the chosen are unable to resist You.

Lord, give courage,

infuse strength,

grant certainty of Your love

and the meaning of their consecration to our priests

and to those who have answered Your call to consecration.

Divine Redeemer, it is Your will that some hearts

Understand and live Your sacrificial love for souls.

Bring forth men and women who can hear Your “I am 

thirsty” of the cross

and empower them to give themselves without limit to

Your mysterious plan.

Yes, Lord, grant us many consecrated people

and keep them faithful to You so that

when they meet You face to face,

they will come to You consumed by love.

Amen.    

Feast of the Presentation