(This novena should be accompanied by some fasting, great or small, and possible abstention from smoking or drinking alcohol and/or limitation of media usage. It may be prayed at any time, but August 7 – 15 is suggested.)
“A priest is not a priest for himself. He is a priest for you.” – St. John Vianney
Opening Prayer for each day:
Dear Queen of Carmel and saints of Carmel, we humbly beg you to intercede with Our Lord so that new vocations to the Carmelite priesthood may flourish worldwide as soon as possible, if it be in accord with Your Divine Will.
DAY 1: OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
With special focus on saying “yes” to God
Prayer: Our Lady of Carmel, Queen of the Clergy, we ask your intercession today for an increase in vocations to the Discalced Carmelite Order throughout the world. Dearest Blessed Mother, you are the Immaculate Conception, the Ark of the New Covenant, and the fairest of our race. You taught us how to entrust our lives completely to the Divine Will. You lived a life of charity and service to Jesus and St. Joseph.
In this same spirit of devotion and sacrifice, please intercede with our heavenly Father to fill His Carmelite monasteries with more Fathers and Brothers. May our present Fathers serve humbly, devoutly, and lovingly as ministers of God’s sacred Altar. Amen.
Our Lady, Queen of Carmel, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. DAY 2: ST. JOSEPH
With special focus on the virtue of obedience
Prayer: Holy St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, Guardian of Our Savior, humble Carpenter of Nazareth, and Patron Saint of the Universal Church, you were a holy and righteous man. You were completely obedient to whatever God asked of you.
O St. Joseph, we implore to intercede with those whom God is calling to Carmel. Please pray that they follow your example of devoted obedience to the call of Our Father in Heaven to be holy. Please keep families holy so that they can freely offer their children to a life of serving God. Amen.
St. Joseph, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. DAY 3: ST. SIMON STOCK
With special focus on brotherhood
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Prayer: St. Simon Stock, you served in the brotherhood of Our Lady of Mount Carmel by being
an early Superior General of the Carmelite Order in 1237 in England. Oral tradition tells us that
her favor and you prayed with great emotion to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel during a time of great
difficulty for the Order. Our Lady answered your prayer.
you were blessed with an apparition of Our Lady who gave you the Holy Scapular as as a sign of
Queen of Carmel, please hear our prayer to increase vocations to the Carmelite Fathers
throughout the world. We petition you through the prayer of St. Simon Stock: Flos Carmeli.
O Most Beautiful Flower of Carmel,
Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven,
holy and singular,
who brought forth the Son of God,
still ever remaining a Pure Virgin,
assist us with making vocations flourish in Carmel.
O Star of the Sea, help and protect us!
Show us that thou art Our Mother.
St. Simon Stock, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 4: ST. TERESA OF JESUS
With a special focus on vocations to Carmel
St. Teresa, Daughter of the Church, you initiated the great reform in convents throughout Spain, and eventually, the world. Dear saint, you brought in St. John of the Cross to reform the monasteries, helped create the classic contemplative life in prayer for Discalced Carmelites, founded convents, wrote many books, inspired countless others, and lived the holy life of a saint, always with obedience and love.
In this same spirit of Carmel, please intercede with us to Our Lord to send many vocations to the Discalced Carmelite Order. We will never cease praying to you and will always need you and love you. As you wrote:
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Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You,
always follow Your plans,
and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will.
Grant that in all things, great and small,
today and all the days of my life,
I may do whatever You require of me.
Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace,
so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honor.
May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me,
in me, and through me. Amen.
St. Teresa of Jesus, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 5: ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS
With a special focus on the virtue of charity
Prayer: Beloved St. Thérèse of great faith and charity, you wanted to become a missionary, but instead accepted God’s will by remaining in your small convent in Lisieux. There you practiced your Little Way and wrote the autobiography that would influence people throughout the ages, spreading the message of mercy and love. As a Carmelite Sister, one of your principal duties was to pray for the Church, and you did this with great fervor.
Dearest St. Thérèse, we ask your blessed intercession today for more vocations to the priesthood and brotherhood of the Discalced Carmelite Order. Please ask our Lord to form young people in the way of love, as He guides them to be instruments for Our Lord and servants of His Church.
“We must forget ourselves, and put aside our tastes and ideas, and guide souls not by our own way, but along the path which Our Lord points out.” -St. Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Thérèse, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. DAY 6: ST. RAPHAEL KALINOWSKI
With special focus on the virtue of trust in God through adversity
Prayer: Saint Raphael, you showed strength in adversity by serving in the military and, as a prisoner, as as a slave laborer in Siberia. Eventually, you became a Discalced Carmelite Friar, spiritual director, and Father Prior. Dearest saint, please help us to accept the difficulties of life and to live gladly for the glory of God. Pray that we grow strong in our faith and in love for one another.
O beloved saint
St. Raphael Kalinowski, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 7: THE 16 CARMELITE SISTERS OF COMPIEGNE
With special focus on martyrdom
Prayer: Beloved Sisters of Compiègne, as martyrs on the guillotine during the Reign of Terror, many credit you with stopping the French Revolution. With your Canoness, St. Teresa of St. Augustine, you inspired others throughout the ages to be courageous in defense of your faith and your God.
Carmelite Sisters and Martyrs of the French Revolution, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 8: ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
With special focus on spirituality
Prayer: St. John, you reformed the Carmelite Order, and along with St. Teresa, founded the Discalced Carmelite Order. You were persecuted by your own fellow friars. You wrote about
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, you moved the hearts of your companions with your example of perseverance
and love for the Immaculate Virgin. We are begging you to obtain from Our Heavenly Father
vocations for priests and brothers to your beloved Carmelite Order.
Lord our God, you called the 16 Carmelite Sisters of Compiégne to show witness to love by their
martyrdom to restore peace to France. Through their intercession, please fill the monasteries of
Discalced Carmel with new vocations. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
the dark night of the soul, which would result in detachment from earthly things and transformational union with God. O beloved saint, we beseech you to intercede for us to the Lord God Almighty to send more vocations to the Discalced Carmelite priesthood and brotherhood.
As you wrote:
“Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you, do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be wrong to Him.”
St. John of the Cross, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
DAY 9: ST. TERESA BENEDICTA OF THE CROSS
With special focus on surrender to the Divine Will
St. Teresa, you were a Discalced Carmelite Sister, teacher, writer, and philosopher. You entered Carmel with a distinct calling from Our Heavenly Father. Dear saint, you believed that if anyone came to you, you wanted to lead them to Him, so you became a martyr for Jesus, His Church, and your Jewish people. Please heed our prayer and intercede for us to have more vocations to the Discalced Carmelite priesthood and brotherhood, through Christ Our Lord.
As you wrote:
“O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace.”
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for us!
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.
Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, Munster, Indiana Carmel
(Sources: Aleteia, Britannica; Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles, Carmelites of Boston; Catholic Doors; Catholic Online; Catholic Strength; Catholic Tradition; Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, Office of Vocations; EWTN; Lifesite Ministries; The Spiritual Life; the USCCB; Vatican News Services )