Last weekend, I encouraged you to pray for all priests during this Year for Priests. Today, I’d like to share with you a Priest’s Prayer. You might want to send it to a priest you know (who is not in the Joliet Diocese) and share it with him. Our bishop sent it to all of us. I’ve found it to be a great source of supplication.

In the Love of Christ,

Fr. Tom Paul

Loving Father,

I praise you, I love you, I adore you.

Send your Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind to the truth of your Son, Jesus, Priest and Victim.

Through the same Spirit guide my heart to his Sacred Heart, to renew in me a priestly passion that I, too, might lay down my life upon the altar.

May your Spirit wash away my impurities and free me from all my transgressions in the Cup of Salvation, Let only your will be done in me.

May the Blessed Mother of your dearly beloved Son, wrap her mantle around me and protect me from all evil. May she guide me to do whatever He tells me. May she teach me to have the heart of St. Joseph, her spouse, to protect and care for my bride.

And may her pierced heart inspire me to embrace as my own your children who suffer at the foot of the cross. I humbly cry to her: please be my consoling mother, and help me to be a better son.

Lord, make me a holy priest, inflamed with the fire of your love, seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls.

I humbly bless and thank you, my Father, through the Spirit, in Christ Jesus, your Son and my brother.

Amen.

O Mary, Queen of priests, pray for us.

Saint John Vianney, pray for us.

A Priest’s Prayer

A PRAYER FOR SHEPHERDS

“I will appoint over you shepherds, after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently.” (Jer.3:15)

Father, in your plan for our salvation you provide shepherds for Your People. Father, we come to you now, in the name of Jesus, our High Priest and Intercessor, to ask that our shepherds especially (name) ________________ may receive:

S a SERVANT’S HEART, committed to consecrated service of leadership.

H a HUMBLE HEART, meek and gentle as the Lamb, to heal the brokenhearted.

E a EUCHARISTIC HEART, full of love to worship you in spirit and in truth.

P a PRAYING HEART, interceding in the power of the Holy Spirit without ceasing.

H a HEARING HEART, obedient to your Word, no matter what the cost.

E an EVANGELISTIC HEART, on fire with zeal for the salvation of souls.

R a RENEWED HEART, to give You greater honor and glory in Christ Jesus.

D A DISCIPLE’S HEART, following the Lamb wheresoever He goes, even to death on a Cross.

Father, we thank you for hearing our prayer and ask that Your priest sons may continue to guard the rich deposit of faith with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells within them, and to bear with courage their share of the hardships which the gospel entails. Father, protect them from the evil one and keep them in Your love always. Amen.

Prayer for Vocations

Gracious and loving God,
Help the men and women of our parish hear the call to serve Your church.
Our needs are great and our people thirst for Your presence.
Open the hearts of many.
Raise up faithful servants of the gospel, dedicated holy priests, sisters, brothers,
and deacons who will spend themselves for Your people and their needs.
Bless those who are serving now with courage and perseverance.
Grant that many will be inspired by their example and faith.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.