PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR PRIESTS

Everything is received through the hands of the priest;
yes, every joy, every good, every heavenly gift.

St. John Vianney (Curé d'Ars)
Patron of Parish Priests

Prayer for Priests
and Students for the Priesthood

Lord Jesus
The ministry of priests is a sign of your unfailing care.
Call from among us the priests needed for today and tomorrow.

Bless all students for the priesthood.
Grant them joy, wisdom, courage and a generous spirit.

Sustain priests with a real sense of your love
and the support of those they are called to serve.

Keep them faithful to their calling.

Amen.

A Prayer by
Pope Saint John Paul II

Mother of Jesus Christ
and Mother of priests,
Accept this title which we bestow on you
to celebrate your motherhood
and to contemplate with you
the priesthood of your Son
and of your sons, 
O holy Mother of God.

Mother of Christ, 
to the Messiah Priest
you gave a body of flesh
through the anointing of the Holy Spirit
for the salvation of the poor
and the contrite of heart;
guard priests in your heart
and in the Church,
O Mother of the Saviour.

Mother of Faith,
you accompanied to the Temple
the Son of Man,
the fulfillment of the promises
given to the fathers;
give to the Father for his glory
the priests of your Son,
O Ark of the Covenant.

Mother of the Church,
with the disciples in the Upper Room
you prayed to the Spirit
for the new People
and their shepherds;
obtain for the Order of Presbyters
a fullness of gifts,
O Queen of the Apostles.

Mother of Jesus Christ,
you were with Him
at the beginning of His life
and of His mission,
you sought the Master among the crowd,
you stood beside Him
when he was lifted up from the earth
consumed as the one eternal sacrifice,
and you had John close by you,
your son;
accept from the beginning
those who have been called,
protect their growth,
accompany your sons in their life
and in their ministry,
O Mother of Priests.

Amen.

A Prayer by
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Lord Jesus Christ,
eternal High Priest,
You offered yourself to the Father
on the altar of the Cross
and through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
gave Your priestly people
a share in Your redeeming sacrifice.
Hear our prayer
for the sanctification of our priests.
Grant that all who are ordained
to the ministerial priesthood
may be ever more conformed to You,
the Divine Master.
May they preach the Gospel with pure heart
and clear conscience.
Let them be shepherds
according to Your own Heart,
single-minded in service to You
and to the Church
and shining examples of a holy,
simple and joyful life.
Through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Your Mother and ours,
draw all priests
and the flocks entrusted to their care
to the fullness of eternal life
where you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

A Prayer By
Saint Therese of Lisieux

O Jesus, eternal Priest,
keep your priests within the shelter
of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world's contagion.

Bless their labours with abundant fruit
and may the souls to whom they minister
be their joy and consolation here
and in heaven their beautiful
and everlasting crown.

Amen.