S.J. A vocation is a special grace that God gives to certain people to serve Him in the priesthood or the religious life. He gives this grace, as Christ Himself told us, in answer to prayer. It means that, in God's ordinary Providence, vocations are the fruit of prayer. We mistakenly assume that some people just receive the grace of vocation and always respond to it.
Vocations are the result of prayer twice over.
Once because without prayer, much prayer, God will not commonly offer the grace of a vocation. And once again because, without prayer, vocations offered by God may not even be recognized by those who receive them or, if recognized, will not be generously responded to. There is one more aspect of prayer and vocations that should be stressed. It is a lifelong invitation that those who are called must continue hearing and continue answering all through life if they are to persevere in their calling. Prayer is a normal condition for perseverance.