Q. I know you’ve talked about vocations for people who are interested in being a priest or a sister, but is it wrong of me to pray for the vocation of marriage? The way some of my friends talk, I think they all plan to live with someone and then decide whether they want to get married.

I think praying for the vocation to marriage is a wonderful idea! And very much needed today! Let me offer a few thoughts on this.

Praying for your vocation is very important. But, in all truth, there may even be something necessary for many people even before they pray for their vocation. Namely, they need to realize they actually have a vocation.

Perhaps to some this seems like an obvious statement but I’m guessing that more people than you realize do not even understand the ideal of a vocation as they grow and begin to look at their future. Many just presume they will fall in love one day and get married and all will be well. And though this may be the case for many, there is still a step or two missing.

I think the first thing that all young people need to realize is that God has a plan for your life. So, I suggest to all teens and college aged students that you begin by the realization that God has a perfect plan for your life and the key is to discern this.

A good prayer to pray every day is something like, “Lord, I say yes to your will in my life. I may not know it yet but whatever it is I desire to follow that plan alone. Give me the insight to discern that plan and the courage to say yes to it every day.” To be continued…