As Catholics, we are encouraged to pray for vocations. St. John Vianney said, “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” The dedication and willingness of people who answer God’s call enables us to become closer to God in so many ways, especially through the Holy Eucharist. Let us also pray for more young men to open their hearts and minds to the idea that God may be calling them to serve Him and His people through the priesthood
What is the Elijah Cup?
The purpose of the Elijah Cup, a chalice used during the Consecration of the Mass, is for families to have the opportunity to bring the chalice into their homes to serve as a focal point that encourages prayer for vocations. It is a powerful presence and inspires prayer from adults and children alike. The Elijah Cup program comes to St. James and St. Leo beginning January 15th.
We are all aware of the need for vocations to the priesthood, the permanent diaconate and to the religious life. But sometimes we forget just how powerful praying for an increase in vocations can be. If we pray with the faith of the widow of Zarapeth, our Cup will never run dry! We will always have priests to bring us Jesus in the Eucharist.
Background
In 1 Kings 17, during a drought, Elijah tells the poor widow of Zarapeth that if she makes him a small loaf of bread with the last of her flour and oil, her “jar of flour will not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the Lord sends rain upon the earth.” In faith, the widow baked the bread and fed Elijah. For the next year, the widow, her son, and Elijah ate bread made from the bowl of flour and jug of oil.
How does it work?
Families will have the opportunity to bring into their homes a chalice that has held the Consecrated Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Elijah Cup serves as a focal point encouraging family prayer for religious vocations, for seminarians and for our serving religious. It is a powerful presence and inspires prayer from adults and children alike.
With the Cup comes a journal in which all the families who have taken the Cup home can write their prayer intentions, their thoughts, their hopes, and whatever else sits on their hearts.
A prayer for vocations:
Heavenly Father, Your divine Son taught us to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His vineyard. We earnestly beg You to bless our Diocese and our world with many priests and religious men and women who will love You fervently, and gladly and courageously spend their lives in service to Your Son’s Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We pray that their lives may be always centered on our Eucharistic Lord; that they be always faithful to the Holy Father; and that they may be devoted sons and daughters of Mary, our Mother, in making You known and loved; and that all may attain Heaven. Bless our families and our children and choose from our homes those whom You desire for this holy work. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Contact Information:
Liz: (760) 815-9090 / Email: waxurt@gmail.com
Tim: (760) 845-6620 / Email: tjt@slatertruxaw.com