A novena inspired from Pope John Paul II - Day Seven

Day Seven

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
from the XXXX World Day of Prayer for Vocations

“...even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve”(Mt 20:28). In truth, Jesus is the perfect model of the “servant” of whom Scripture speaks. He is the one who radically emptied Himself to take on “the form of a servant”(Phil 2:7) and to dedicate Himself totally to the things of the Father, as the beloved Son in whom the Father is well pleased. Jesus did not come to be served, “but to serve, and to give His life as ransom for many”(Mt 20:28). He washed the feet of His disciples and obeyed the plan of the Father even unto death, death on a cross. Therefore, the Father Himself has exalted Him, giving Him a new name and making Him Lord of heaven and of earth. How can one not read in the story of the “servant Jesus” the story of every vocation: the story that the Creator has planned for every human being, the story that inevitably passes through the call to serve and culminates in the discovery of the new name, designed by God for each individual? In these “names,” people can grasp their own identity, directing themselves to that self-fulfillment which makes them free and happy. In particular, how can one not read in the parable of the Son, Servant and Lord, the vocational story of the person who is called by Jesus to follow Him more closely: that is, to be servant in the priestly ministry or in religious consecration? In fact, the priestly vocation or the religious vocation are always, by their very nature, vocations to the generous service of God and neighbor.

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

Pause for a moment to ask for Pope John Paul’s intercession.

Please pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be.

Prayer
Mary, humble servant of God Most High,
the Son to whom you gave birth
has made you the servant of humanity.
Your life was a humble and generous service.
You were servant of the Word when the angel
announced to you the divine plan of salvation.
You were servant of the Son, giving Him life
and remaining open to the mystery.
You were servant of Redemption,
standing courageously at the foot of the Cross,
close to the Suffering Servant and Lamb,
who was sacrificing Himself for love of us.
You were servant of the Church on the day of Pentecost
and with your intercession
you continue to generate Her in every believer,
even in our difficult and troubled times.
Let young people of the third millennium
look to you, young daughter of Israel,
who have known the agitation of a young heart
when faced with the plan of the Eternal God.
Make them able to accept the invitation of Your Son
to give their lives wholly for the glory of God.
Make them understand that to serve God satisfies the heart,
and that only in service of God and of His kingdom
do we realize ourselves in accordance with the divine plan,
and life becomes a hymn of glory to the most Holy Trinity. Amen.