Praying for Our Priests: a Book

Here's some info about this book from their website:

"There can be no more fruitful investment in the life of Holy Mother Church than time spent in prayer for Her priests and vocations to the priesthood. This project had its origin in the early days of 2006 when Monsignor Peter Dunne, recovering from a long and critical illness, experienced a deepening awareness of the need to pray for his brother priests in Purgatory.
At the same time, Vicki Herout, his longtime caregiver, spiritual daughter, and coworker in many projects, began to realize in her own prayers an intense and persistent call to pray for the priesthood. Eventually, they brought together a group that has continued to meet regularly to pray for priests. This booklet, initially compiled as an aid to this prayer group, has been adapted for use by individuals as well as small and large groups in a variety of settings."

Priestly Poetry

From Bamboo Swaying in the Wind
Claudia Devaux & George Bernard Wong, S.J.

While recuperating in the infirmary
George Wong wrote Fr. Frank
“How beats your heart?”
He responded in verse beginning with this preface:

Wherein a Youth of old Cathay doth ask after
the health of his dear friend, the Priest,
and the latter doth respond accordingly
from his sick bed, the whole being
fashioned in meter of four feet.


A young man asks God’s anointed Priest,
Who was stricken down at a gladsome feast
Of rice and clothing for his refugee flock-
Gaunt and starving from warfare’s shock.

Yes, broken was he in the blossom of life,
While dreaming so fondly of chivalrous strife
For Christ his King and his lady above,
To whom he had vowed eternal love.

How fares your heart?
How fares your heart?

Glowing and fresh as an autumn dawn,
The lad’s bright soul enquires anon;
Eager for a sign from the priestly hand
That guided his youth toward the promised land.

His own heart kindles with the same emprise,
To battle for Christ through joy and signs;
His chase eyes cast on the Gleam afore,
Enchanting his steps to an unknown shore.

How beats your heart?
How beats your heart?

II.
O youth of Sinim and brother of mine,
Sealed by God with the coals divine;
Listen to the words I sing this night-
Stretched on my back in helpless plight.

Steeled is my heart in the soldier’s mould
Of knightly Ignatius, the captain bold;
Aflame is my heart with apostle’s grace
For the cherished millions of this olden race.

Thus fares my heart.
Thus fares my heart.

O youthful dreamer, look up on high,
At the Crucified Master against the sky;
Look at the purple breast heaving in pain;
As the scourged Heart pulses its tortured refrain.

Ah, measure your beat on this Heart of love!
Sorrow and tears as the Spring winds blow.
But laughter and life in that glorified place,
Where two hearts pulse in a timeless embrace.

Thus beats my heart.
Thus beats my heart.

(Thanks to Peggy Morris for sending this one in!)

Reminder: Plenary Indulgence during Year for Priests

First Thursday's of the month offer a plenary indulgence during the Year for Priests:

Pope Benedict XVI announced a special Year for Priests to begin June 19, 2009, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart and ending June 19, 2010. In order to promote prayers for priests, he has announced that a plenary indulgence may be gained on the first and last day of the Year for Priests (6/19), and on the first Thursday of each month. To obtain the indulgence, the faithful must attend Mass and offer prayers to "Jesus christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify them and mold them to His Heart". These must be accompanied by sacramental confession within 21 days before or after, and prayers for the Pope.

The elderly, the sick, or the home bound may gain the plenary indulgence if, with the intention of observing the usual three conditions (Mass and Communion, Confession, detachment from sin) as soon as they can, "on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles:. A partial indulgence is offered to the faithful when they pray five times the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, or any other duly approved prayer "in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to ask that priests maintain purity an sanctity of life".

(Indulgenced prayers and devotions are a gift from the Church to aid us in our spiritual journey. A plenary indulgence is a full pardon for punishments owing for sin, sacramentally confessed, and makes possible immediate entrance into heaven after death. The requirements for gaining a plenary indulgence are sacramental confession, Communion, and prayers for the Pope's intentions such as an Our Father and a Hail Mary. We must also have an attitude of love and penitence, with no attachment to any sin. If this disposition is in any way less than complete, or if the three prescribed conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence is only partial. A partial indulgence is a partial pardon for penance owing. The faithful should at least have a contrite heart to gain the partial indulgence.)

Below is an approved Daily Prayer for Priests to gain the plenary indulgence under the usual conditions on the specified days.

Daily Prayer for Priests

O Almighty, Eternal God, look upon the Face of Your Son and for love of Him, who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on Your priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the bishop's hands. Keep them close to You, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation.

O Jesus, I pray for Your faithful and fervent priests; for Your unfaithful and tepid priests; for Your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Your tempted priests; for the lonely and desolate priests; for Your young priests; for Your dying priests; for the souls of Your priests in purgatory.

But above all, I comment to you N. and all the priests dearest to me, the priest who baptized me, the priests who have absolved me from my sins, the priests at whose Masses I have assisted and who have offered me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion, the priests who have taught me or helped and encouraged me, and the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way.

O Jesus, keep them all close to Your Heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity. Amen.

Faith Folders: Year for Priests

Teachers, Catechists, Homeschooling Moms! Check out these terrific lapbooks. They're Year for Priests Faith Folders. And 50% of the proceeds are going to charities in honor of a special young boy who passed away in August. You can read about the boy who only wanted to be a priest here.

The Priesthood: A Grand Adventure

Fr. John Williams, a diocesan priest in Cheshire, CT :

“People ask me what it’s like to be a priest, and my response is that it’s exciting and never dull. No two days are the same".....
When he gets up in the morning, he never knows which hat he’ll be wearing most, or what adventure will be waiting for him. But he does know that he will be totally at the service of his people."

Go here for the rest of the story

New York Archdiocese has Amazing Year for Priests Site

Check out this post about the Archdiocese of New York's efforts for the Year for Priests

"Show me the way to Ars and I'll show you the way to Heaven."

Catholic Cuisine has everything you need to plan a nice celebration for this feast day in honor of St. John Vianney! Excellent - You'll want to bookmark this site for future celebrations.

St. John Vianney - August 4

This beloved priest, patron of parish priests and now of ALL priests, struggled as a student to complete his studies for the priesthood. When he was finally ordained he was sent to a remote village at Ars, France. In spite of the humbleness of his situation he became renowned. Thousands would flock to Ars to hear his homilies or go to confession. He would spend up to 16 hours in the confessional. It was said he would do battle with the devil. A man of extraordinary patience, St. John Vianney lived a life of extreme mortification out of love for Christ and for souls.

Reminder!

My friend Sam reminded me that tomorrow is the Feast of St. John Vianney! Plan on boiled potatoes for dinner - apparently that was all he ate.

Pray for Priests - Craft

"It would be easier for the earth to exist without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass."

- Padre Pio

Under Her Starry Mantle has a terrific post about a craft that reminds kids to pray for priests!

Did you see them?

Franciscan Friars walked from Roanoke,VA to DC. It took them six weeks and they relied on the kindness of strangers. I think St. Francis would be proud. The Washington Post has the story.

Welcome Visitors

Welcome to the folks visiting from Catholic and Enjoying It! Have a look around. And if you have stories about vocations,priests or religious we'd love to hear from you. Just click on the email address in the sidebar and drop us a line. We'd love to publish your story. God Bless!

Vocations: A Gift to the Church, a Gift to the Family

Speaking of the Archdiocese of Washington (see below), the Catholic Standard is running another great story on seminarians. This covers a Seminarian Family Day in which Archbishop Donald Wuerl visited with the seminarians and their families. From the article:

During his homily, the archbishop noted the recent Ordination Mass marked the beginning of the Year for Priests declared by Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Wuerl said in the Year for Priests, "We are reminded of the unique role and the identity of the priest." He added that the priest "continues the work of redemption on Earth."Archbishop Wuerl noted that the Seminarian Family Day also marked the feast of St. James, an early Christian martyr who understood what the priesthood is all about. The archbishop said, "What the priest brings to the world today...is surpassing power...nothing less than the presence of Christ."The archbishop also quoted St. John Vianney, who is the patron saint of parish priests. St. John Vianney said priests must be men of prayer, hear their calling, share their identity with Christ, and show and live that identity by caring for those entrusted to their care.Archbishop Wuerl said priestly formation makes it "possible for the earthen vessels to be strong enough, to hold that gift of surpassing power."

Then Msgr. Panke spoke about the role of families in the formation of priests:

Msgr. Panke said, "What God asks us to do makes us happy. If you say 'yes' to that, then your life is beautiful.""Parents play such an essential role" in the formation of the priest, Msgr. Panke said, and he added that the role of parents in a priest's vocation is lifelong. "When we (priests) become ordained, we bring our families with us." Likewise the commitment of the priest "oozes out into the family," he said.That point was illustrated by two sets of parents of future priests who gave testimonials during the picnic. In their testimony, Dan and Judy Wells -- the parents of Deacon Dave Wells, a seminarian for the archdiocese -- said his vocation to the priesthood has been an "invisible osmosis that's affected our family," noting that their son's vocation has had a good influence on their whole family.Tom and Cecilia Royals -- the parents of Father Andrew Royals, a parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Bowie -- said although they have more than one son, for families who only have one son, it can be difficult for him to be "given up" to the priesthood. But the couple said instead of grandchildren, parents of a priest have "spiritual progeny."

Go read the whole thing.

Quo Vadis?

The Archdiocese of Washington is sponsoring a terrific four day camp/retreat for high school age boys from August 9 - 12th. It's called "Quo Vadis" meaning "Where are you going?" There will be lots of fun, games, sports, hiking, and talks and great food. Go to this link to find out more!

Ordination of Archbiship Augustine DiNoia

For some reason the video won't embed but you can view the entire ordination here.

Speaking of "Vocationally Aware"....

The Catholic Standard ran a marvelous story about a terrific parish in my town that has had great success in forming vocations:

Strong evidence of daily and numerous prayers for vocations showed up in a small, informal picnic for priests who grew up at Sacred Heart Parish in Bowie. Three priests and a seminarian, most in their twenties and thirties, came to the July 12 picnic with their parents to enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, deviled eggs, fruit salad and other food. The only questionable thing being served at the picnic was water - parents joked that there must be something in the parish's water that is awakening the call to so many vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Msgr. Charles Parry, pastor of the parish, said "the environment of the parish, and the environment of the home are just the right ingredients," for vocations. The parishioners "really have a great love for the Church, and the Church's teachings, and a great respect for vocations," he said. The parish also boasts the early formation of two sisters who joined the Institute of the Servant of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, two men studying to be priests with the Legionnaires of Christ, and several permanent deacons. Father RobWalsh, the secretary to Cardinal McCarrick and the assistant director of vocations, is another priest who grew up at Sacred Heart Parish, but couldn't attend the picnic. "The hand of God is on this place; from the day I came here I saw the hand of God is on this place," Msgr. Parry said.The pastor said parishioners pray for vocations at every Mass, and they know the vocations prayer by heart. Msgr. Parry was inspired to write the prayer while walking the parish grounds.

Read the whole thing.

Is Your Parish "Vocationally Aware?"

The following came from a vocations summit in the Archdiocese of Baltimore:

These 8 points for establishing a ‘vocationally aware’ parish were highlighted by a pastor who currently has 6 parishioners in religious discernment:

-Eucharistic Adoration
-Active Youth Group
-Happy Priests
-Opportunities for youth to connect to the greater church: retreats, world youth day, attending archdiocesan events, ordinations, connecting to the pope
-A Place/Role for everyone
-Family Friendly Church: parish picnics, annual events
-Openness/support of homeschooling
-Seminarian Presence

The Priest Game

Want to learn more about the priesthood and the Mass? Get the game.

Holiness in our Priests and in ourselves

My friend, Barb Reese, recently gave a wonderful talk on the Year for Priests and has given me permission to post some of it here.

"In regards to our prayer life, the Holy Father asks us to reflect on the ways each of us has shown an attitude of disregard for the true dignity of the priesthood and the effect these attitudes may have had on the spirit and attitude of priests, as well as on the promotion of vocations to the priesthood. (Great meat for EOC)
He also asks us to offer a prayer for the interior sanctification of the priests who serve in your parish and for all priests.
To highlight the importance of a priest’s holiness, we can turn to the passage from Soul of the Apostolate :
If the priest is a saint, the people will be fervent. If the priest is fervent, the people will be pious; if the priest is pious, the people will be at least decent. But if the priest is only decent, the people will be godless”…..
And the Holy Father responds by saying: “the sanctity of the priest can be positively influenced by the depth of sanctity of the people he serves. So, it can also be said…If the people strive to be saints, the priest will be drawn toward greater fervor. If the people tend toward fervor, the priest will gravitate toward piety. At the same time, if the spiritual sights of the people are set quite low then this can be a source of discouragement for the priest and cause him to set his sights even lower. Thus, if the people strive only for surface piety, then their priest will be content with decency. If the people are content with decency then they may actually prefer a godless priest.”
So, we must see that we don’t live in a vacuum- we are the body of Christ- we must help our priests persevere. We are challenged here by the Holy Father’s words to see the connection between our striving for holiness and that of the priest’s !

....In RomeReports.com on June 18 there is a reference to the Pope’s letter to all priests which I found really interesting…. he encourages them to follow the example of St John Vianney and “ to not be confined to their parishes but to also dedicate their time to the confession of people, visiting families, preparing feasts and taking care of the liturgical objects…. and also to the devout celebration of the Mass and the formation of people.”

This calls to mind the reality that without the priestly ministry, there would be no Eucharist, no mission and even no Church.
There are many roles that the laity are being asked to fill since the number of retiring priests increases, and we are still suffering from the decline in vocations in past decades.
However, as Catholic lay leaders we must be very sensitive to the tendency to devalue the priesthood as the laity is being promoted, so to speak.
Pope Benedict says “we must guard against this tendency and not allow any further diluting of the priestly ministry….. instead, we are called to provide a firm foundation for an authentic renewal of reverence and respect for the priestly office.”

Our challenge is to know who we are in relation to God and to his priest, and who we are not.
We can humbly serve God and the church in appropriate ways without ever forgetting our call to obedience and with great hopes that our prayers for vocations will soon return some of these areas of responsibility to the ordained and when that day comes, we humbly step aside again.

...I’d like to close with some interesting statistics that were reported in the NCR[Register] by Tim Drake in the June 14-20 issue :

The total number of Archdiocesan ordinants in the class of 2009 = 465 which was up from 401 last year.
The largest classes are in the Arch of Newark (13), Chicago (10) and DC (8)

The average age at ordination was 37 in 2006 and has been dropping since… and this year the median age was 32.

90% of all priests say they are happy in their vocation.

The only unfortunate statistic was that nearly 45% of priests who were ordained this year said that they had been discouraged from considering a vocation.
Of those, 60% said a parent or family member was the source of the discgment.
51% said a friend or classmate was the source of discouragement.
15% said a priest was the source.

The laity have a role to play, both contemplative and conquering, during this Year of the Priest to reelevate the dignity of the Priesthood to that during the time of St John Vianney, to help reinforce the internal strength of priests, and to renew their motivation and enthusiasm for their mission."

Pope Benedict's Letter Proclaiming the Year for Priests

I can't believe I hadn't read this in its entirety until now. Just beautiful for meditating on the great dignity of this vocation. Read the whole thing here. Excerpts:
…
"The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus”, the saintly Curé of Ars would often say.[2] This touching expression makes us reflect, first of all, with heartfelt gratitude on the immense gift which priests represent, not only for the Church, but also for humanity itself. I think of all those priests who quietly present Christ’s words and actions each day to the faithful and to the whole world, striving to be one with the Lord in their thoughts and their will, their sentiments and their style of life. How can I not pay tribute to their apostolic labours, their tireless and hidden service, their universal charity? And how can I not praise the courageous fidelity of so many priests who, even amid difficulties and incomprehension, remain faithful to their vocation as “friends of Christ”, whom he has called by name, chosen and sent?

…Yet the expression of Saint John Mary also makes us think of Christ’s pierced Heart and the crown of thorns which surrounds it. I also think, therefore, of the countless situations of suffering endured by many priests, either because they themselves share in the manifold human experience of pain or because they encounter misunderstanding from the very persons to whom they minister. How can we not also think of all those priests who are offended in their dignity, obstructed in their mission and persecuted, even at times to offering the supreme testimony of their own blood?

The Holy Father acknowledges the recent unpleasantness:

There are also, sad to say, situations which can never be sufficiently deplored where the Church herself suffers as a consequence of infidelity on the part of some of her ministers.

Then he moves forward:

What is most helpful to the Church in such cases is not only a frank and complete acknowledgment of the weaknesses of her ministers, but also a joyful and renewed realization of the greatness of God’s gift, embodied in the splendid example of generous pastors, religious afire with love for God and for souls, and insightful, patient spiritual guides.
…[The cure of Ars] spoke of the priesthood as if incapable of fathoming the grandeur of the gift and task entrusted to a human creature: “O, how great is the priest! … If he realized what he is, he would die… God obeys him: he utters a few words and the Lord descends from heaven at his voice, to be contained within a small host…”.[4] Explaining to his parishioners the importance of the sacraments, he would say: “Without the Sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him there in that tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of your life? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for its journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest, always the priest. And if this soul should happen to die [as a result of sin], who will raise it up, who will restore its calm and peace? Again, the priest… After God, the priest is everything! … Only in heaven will he fully realize what he is”.[5] These words, welling up from the priestly heart of the holy pastor, might sound excessive. Yet they reveal the high esteem in which he held the sacrament of the priesthood. He seemed overwhelmed by a boundless sense of responsibility: “Were we to fully realize what a priest is on earth, we would die: not of fright, but of love… Without the priest, the passion and death of our Lord would be of no avail. It is the priest who continues the work of redemption on earth… What use would be a house filled with gold, were there no one to open its door? The priest holds the key to the treasures of heaven: it is he who opens the door: he is the steward of the good Lord; the administrator of his goods … Leave a parish for twenty years without a priest, and they will end by worshiping the beasts there … The priest is not a priest for himself,

Year For Priests Coloring Contest

Here's a fun coloring contest brought to you by Illuminating Ink

Vocation Challenge!

This parish has an abundance of vocations! Nine women are discerning religious life and 20 men are seminarians; all from this parish alone! Would your parish be willing to take the Vocation Challenge? Imagine what the Church could accomplish if all parishes tried to top that!

contributed by Maria

Building Bridges

We are accustomed to popes declaring a holy year and unifying the church toward a single focus. After all, we just closed the Year of St. Paul. But it is much easier to contemplate a single person such as St. Paul than it is to scrutinize a concept like the priesthood. Why the Year for Priests? Pope Benedict, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, recognizes that the renewal of all begins with the renewal of a few. Our Holy Father recognizes that the church has moved away from God’s understanding of the priesthood. He is inviting us, starting with priests, to come back. If we accept the invitation, the consequences will be glorious.

Currently, there is a great divide between God’s intention for the priesthood and our understanding of this office. Reflecting on the call of Peter, we get a hint of God’s perspective. While standing on the shore, Jesus sees ordinary men engaged in their everyday, human employment, and he offers them a supernatural vocation. Fishermen become Fishers of Men, who, with the grace of God, will capture souls in the net that is the church and carry them to eternal happiness in heaven. This is, after all, God’s M.O.- using human instruments to invite others into a relationship with the Divine Creator. John the Baptist invited James and John, who eventually introduced Peter to Our Lord. Continuing this trend, God established a church and instituted the priesthood, elevating certain men to carry on his mission of inviting others to choose eternity in heaven. The first apostles recognized the supernatural dignity of the priesthood with humble acceptance. In fact, one of the earliest acts of the nascent church was to establish the diaconate so the early priests could dedicate themselves to preaching the word and celebrating the sacraments. The first Christians also reverenced the office of the priesthood as they considered it an honor to support the holy ones. Clearly, the early church understood the priesthood from God’s perspective, but this comprehension is eroding with time. As is the case with supernatural realities, unless they are carefully preserved through prayer, sacrifice and sacrament, they are often debased to human realities. Parish priests become administrators who have no time for attending retreats or spending extended hours in the confessional. The laity insists on increased collaboration in parish decisions and calls for an end to celibacy as a means of rectifying a crisis of numbers and morals. These are human attributes, but the priesthood is a supernatural entity. Where is God’s perspective in all of this?

With prayer and sacrifice, each of us, priest, consecrated and lay, must build a bridge crossing the chasm from our perspective back to God’s perspective. This is what the pope is inviting us to do during this Year for Priests. Most notably, he is asking priests to be the foremen in the building project, leading the way through an intense period of personal introspection and renewal. The pope invites priests to take as their model St. John Marie Vianney. By human appearances, this man makes a poor example. He was neither intelligent nor good-looking. He struggled through the academics of formation, and after finally being ordained, he was assigned to a small parish in France. But there, he became the prisoner of the confessional, offering God’s mercy to his parishioners. He offered so many sacrifices for the holiness of his parishioners, that the devil visited him regularly to torment him physically. In his simplicity, St. John understood the essence of the priesthood. He was a conduit of God’s grace. He was casting his nets and bringing in fish. He was giving his life for others. Spending a year reflecting on the virtues of this great saint could be life-changing for any priest. Certainly, such an effort could be the foundation of the bridge back to God’s perspective. As laity, we can assist our priests as they traverse back to supernatural realities by supporting them in prayer and action. We can promote communal prayers for priests and increased adoration. We can support seminarians and attend ordinations. We can care for elderly priests and offer frequent tokens of gratitude to our current priests. Just like the early Christians, we can support the holy ones, verifying the truth that theirs is an elevated dignity, and a gift from God given for our redemption. Through this collaborative effort, we will gradually recognize the priesthood as the mystery that it is – never fully grasping its reality, but persistently seeking a deeper understanding – returning to God’s perspective.

Just the act of seeking supernatural realities has eternal consequences. The pope is placing a lot of hope in this truth. Beginning with this year, those who are closest to Christ, the alter Christus – the priest - will actively conform to the heart of Christ. In doing so, many souls will follow. Again, the pope relies on the example of St. John Vianney to make this hope clear to all priests. The essence of the heart of Christ is in His compassionate forgiveness. A priest who is dedicated to imploring the heart of Christ for his own forgiveness and for the forgiveness of others will lead countless souls to paradise. He will be counter-cultural, a source of renewal in this age. Acting in Persona Christi, as is God’s plan, the priest will be a visible manifestation of God’s love to all he encounters. How can that not have eternal consequences?

So let us thank God for this Year for Priests and actively collaborate with its mission. Let us reflect on the priesthood with the intention of returning to God’s understanding and eliminate the errors of our humanity. And let us join Pope Benedict in joyful anticipation of the hope that lies in the heart of each priest. The heart conformed to the merciful heart of Christ, our Savior. Through prayer, sacrifice and sacrament, we will build the bridge and return to God.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.

Contributed by Christine

ST. JOHN VIANNEY - PATRON OF PRIESTS

Novena Prayer to St. John Vianney

Saint John Vianney, you were born of a deeply religious mother. From her you received the Holy Faith, you learned to love God and to pray. You had to fight against many obstacles and contradictions,

suffering much to become the perfect priest you were.

But your deep spirit of faith supported you in all these battles.

I would like to serve God better;

from Him I have received so many good things.

For this, obtain for me more courage and especially a deep faith.

Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession.

Pray for me during this novena especially for.... (mention your special intentions).Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

contribution from Peggy

Official Prayer from the Bishops

Official Prayer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Dear Lord, we pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry.

We pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5).

May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse.

May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross.

May your priests be holy, filled with the fire of your love, seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls. Amen.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.

contributed by Christine

Great Resource for Year of the Priest

A friend of mine sent me this amazing link.

contribution from Becky

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

Keep them, I pray thee
Dearest Lord
Keep them for they are Thine,
Thy priests whose lives
Burn out before thy
Consecrated shrine.
Keep them for they are
In the world
Though from the world apart
When earthly pleasures
Tempt them
In Thy heart keep them
And remember Lord
They have no one but Thee
Yet they have only human hearts
With human frailty,
Keep them as spotless
As the Host
That daily they caress
Their every thought, word,
And deed
Deign dearest Lord,
To bless.

contribution from Laura