THE OBLATE NOVENA FOR VOCATIONS (Traditional Prayed between 21st May – 29th May) Day 1 – The Call John 1:38-39 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” Oblate Constitutions & Rules: “The Oblates are a Missionary Congregation. They are set apart for the Gospel, ready to leave everything to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Their principal service in the Church is to proclaim Christ and his Kingdom to the most abandoned. The mission of the Oblates is especially to those people whose condition cries out for salvation and for the hope, which only Jesus Christ can fully bring. These are the poor with their many faces - they have our preference.” Prayer Holy Father, We come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest. Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make their whole life a total oblation to you. Send us generous members of the De Mazenod Family, who alongside the Oblates, become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and proclaim the Gospel. May they burn with the same fire that you enkindled in St Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption. Mary Immaculate, who first gave Jesus to the world, be with us as we pray. Amen. Our Father... Hail Mary... Saint Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us Blessed Joseph Gerard, pray for us Blessed Joseph Cebula, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Spain, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Laos, pray for us Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate! Day 2 – The Sending Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” Oblate Constitutions & Rules: “We must spare no effort to extend the Saviour’s Empire. We must leave nothing undared for the Kingdom of God.” Prayer Holy Father, We come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest. Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make their whole life a total oblation to you. Send us generous members of the De Mazenod Family, who alongside the Oblates, become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and proclaim the Gospel. May they burn with the same fire that you enkindled in St Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption. Mary Immaculate, who first gave Jesus to the world, be with us as we pray. Amen. Our Father... Hail Mary... Saint Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us Blessed Joseph Gerard, pray for us Blessed Joseph Cebula, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Spain, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Laos, pray for us Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate! Day 3 – The Challenge Romans 10: 15,17 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi #57: “The Church has a duty to preach salvation to all. The Gospel message is not reserved to a small group of the elect or privileged but is destined for everyone. There is anguish in the Church of Christ because there are exhausted crowds like sheep without a shepherd who hunger for the liberating word of God that offers hope and life. The word of God must be spoken, shared, proclaimed and lived.” Prayer Holy Father, We come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest. Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make their whole life a total oblation to you. Send us generous members of the De Mazenod Family, who alongside the Oblates, become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and proclaim the Gospel. May they burn with the same fire that you enkindled in St Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption. Mary Immaculate, who first gave Jesus to the world, be with us as we pray. Amen. Our Father... Hail Mary... Saint Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us Blessed Joseph Gerard, pray for us Blessed Joseph Cebula, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Spain, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Laos, pray for us Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate! Day 4 – The Mission Luke 4:16-19 Jesus stood up to read from the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to captives, to restore sight to the blind and to set the oppressed free.” Blessed Joseph Gerard OMI: "An Oblate of Mary Immaculate wants to see everything with his eyes, know with his heart, give joy to everyone by his presence, be all things to all people to win them over to Jesus Christ. He loves in such a way that each person would believe himself or herself to be uniquely loved by him. We must love our people, love them in spite of everything, love them always. The world belongs to the person who loves it most and proves it." Prayer Holy Father, We come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest. Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make their whole life a total oblation to you. Send us generous members of the De Mazenod Family, who alongside the Oblates, become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and proclaim the Gospel. May they burn with the same fire that you enkindled in St Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption. Mary Immaculate, who first gave Jesus to the world, be with us as we pray. Amen. Our Father... Hail Mary... Saint Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us Blessed Joseph Gerard, pray for us Blessed Joseph Cebula, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Spain, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Laos, pray for us Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate! Day 5 – The Gift Matthew 13:45-46 The Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. St Eugene de Mazenod: “Every religious congregation in the Church has a spirit of its own; it is inspired by the Spirit of God to respond to the needs of the Church to work for the salvation of souls. By our particular vocation we are involved with the redemption of humanity... May we, by the sacrifice of our whole being, so cooperate as not to render His redemption fruitless for ourselves and for those we are called upon to evangelize.” Prayer Holy Father, We come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest. Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make their whole life a total oblation to you. Send us generous members of the De Mazenod Family, who alongside the Oblates, become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and proclaim the Gospel. May they burn with the same fire that you enkindled in St Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption. Mary Immaculate, who first gave Jesus to the world, be with us as we pray. Amen. Our Father... Hail Mary... Saint Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us Blessed Joseph Gerard, pray for us Blessed Joseph Cebula, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Spain, pray for us Blessed Oblate Martyrs of Laos, pray for us Praised be Jesus Christ and Mary Immaculate! Day 6 – The Ideal Mark 1:16-18 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Oblate Constitutions and Rules: "We fulfill our mission in community...Our mission requires that, in a radical way, we follow Jesus who was chaste and poor, and who redeemed humankind by his obedience." Prayer Holy Father, We come to you because Jesus asked us to pray that you send workers into your harvest. Therefore, send us generous young men, passionate for Jesus, willing to make their whole life a total oblation to you. Send us generous members of the De Mazenod Family, who alongside the Oblates, become close to the poorest and most abandoned, and proclaim the Gospel. May they burn with the same fire that you enkindled in St Eugene; may they come to be part of his family and, with all the Oblates, may they continue the work of Redemption.