Lillois Youth Prayer for Vocations to Resound Before the Pope at Stade France

A prayer for vocations composed by two young musicians from Lille will be highlighted on Friday, September 25, at the Stade France during the papal youth vigil. The refrain of the choir Adorate, written by Paul and his friend François Challier, will be sung before several thousand young people in the presence of the Pope.

Paul, a 22-year-old engineering student and founder of the choir Adorate in Lille, along with François Challier, both former students of the musical academy Liesse, decided this summer to write and set to music a prayer for vocations. They recorded it with the choir in September. The song was a way for the choir members to thank the chaplaincy of the Catholic Institute of Lille and its chaplain, Father Rigail, for their support since the creation of Adorate in 2024, especially allowing them to rehearse in their chapel.

The prayer was originally a simple refrain repeated each Tuesday evening during a candlelit Mass. Paul explained that the main goal was for it to be easy to learn and impactful. Four verses were later added, each highlighting a different figure: Saint Thomas Aquinas for work, the Virgin Mary for religious vocations, Louis and Zélie Martin for marriage, and Saint Benedict Joseph Labre for sufferings.

Paul and his friends wrote these words especially for young people. Each Tuesday evening, many gather for Mass, often invited by friends and some returning, moved by the priest's words, the songs, or simply by what they experience. At a time when young people often face choices, taking time to reflect on one's vocation is not always easy. Paul hopes to help them ask this question and take time to pray. He emphasized that vocation is not limited to priesthood or religious life, but can also include the duty of state or family life.

This prayer echoes Paul's own journey. As an engineering student, he chose to reorient himself toward medicine, a period during which he prayed much to discern where God was calling him. The prayer's phrase "To grow in holiness" particularly resonates with him, as he believes it summarizes the entire Christian life.

Touched by the prayer, Father Rigail transmitted it to the National Service for Vocations on the occasion of the Pope's visit. The refrain was reworked into a video clip, which will be shown during the event. For Paul, who was already pleased to see it performed by about a hundred students, this is totally unexpected.