Thursday Prayer for Our Precious Priests!

Dear Friends,

The ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, and Philadelphia celebrate The Ascension of Our Lord today--Thursday. All other provinces have transferred this solemnity to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, June 5th. This beautiful Solemnity reminds us of where our eyes are to be fixed! Keep praying for our priests and all religious.


Pax Christi,
Kathy


Thursday Prayer ~

My God and Father, in response to the word of your Son on the Mount
of Olives, "Watch and pray with me," we ask you to accept us as special
helpers for your priests, on behalf of whom, we offer you each Thursday as
a sacrifice of love.
With a fervent desire of being such a helper of priests, I offer you, Father,
in complete confidence, each Thursday as a sacrifice of love on behalf of
all priests. Take this sacrifice of my poor love and transform it in your Heart
into the wine for the Chalice of Strength. Then, Father, send your angels
out with this chalice to all priests! Amen.


O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter of your
Most Sacred Heart, where none can touch them. Keep unstained their
anointed hands, which daily touch your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied
their lips daily tinged with your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unworldly
their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let your Holy
Love surround and protect them from the world's contagion. Bless their labors
with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and
consolation here, and their everlasting crown in the hereafter. Amen.
~St. Therese of the Child Jesus

 

Beautiful, I so appreciate this.

 

Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continuous gift of prayer for our priests and all religious. Blessings
to you as we approach the end of the Easter Season and celebrate Pentecost Sunday.

Pax Christi,
Kathy

My God and Father, in response to the word of your Son on the Mount
of Olives, "Watch and pray with me," we ask you to accept us as special
helpers for your priests, on behalf of whom, we offer you each Thursday as
a sacrifice of love.

With a fervent desire of being such a helper of priests, I offer you, Father,
in complete confidence, each Thursday as a sacrifice of love on behalf of
all priests. Take this sacrifice of my poor love and transform it in your Heart
into the wine for the Chalice of Strength. Then, Father, send your angels
out with this chalice to all priests! Amen.

Lord Jesus, once you called the first disciples in order to make them fishers of men.
Continue to let resound today your sweet invitation: "Come and follow Me."
Grant to young men and women the grace of responding promptly to your voice.
Sustain our bishops, priests and consecrated souls in their apostolic work. Give
perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are fulfilling the ideal of a life of
total consecration to your service.

Enkindle in our communities a missionary zeal. Send, Lord, workers into your fields
and do not let mankind be lost because of a lack of pastors, missionaries and people
dedicated to the cause of the Gospel.

Mary, Mother of the Church, model of vocations, help us say "yes" to the Lord who
calls us to collaborate in the divine design of salvation. Amen.
~Pope John Paul II

 

Thursday 6/16 prayer for priests

Dear Friends,
The prayer below is from a prayer card from the Priests for Life website. A link is included if you would like to order some for your church or group--they are FREE. Remember to pass this along to friends so others will be reminded to pray for our priests, and the unborn, too!

Pax Christi,
Kathy

My God and Father, in response to the word of your Son on the Mount
of Olives, "Watch and pray with me," we ask you to accept us as special
helpers for your priests, on behalf of whom, we offer you each Thursday as
a sacrifice of love.
With a fervent desire of being such a helper of priests, I offer you, Father,
in complete confidence, each Thursday as a sacrifice of love on behalf of
all priests. Take this sacrifice of my poor love and transform it in your Heart
into the wine for the Chalice of Strength. Then, Father, send your angels
out with this chalice to all priests! Amen.

Father,
You sent your Son Jesus Christ to be our High Priest,
And you gave us the gift of the priesthood to continue His saving work.
Bless our priests, and give us more of them. Make them holy.
Strengthen them to proclaim the Gospel of Life, and to defend the rights of all,
Especially the unborn.
Bring us, your priests and people to the life that never ends.
We pray through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

http://www.priestsforlife.org/store/p-236-prayer-for-priests-prayer-card.aspx

 

Dear Friends,

I came across this prayer and for so many reasons it is timely. We pray for all our priests and, in particular, Fr. Corapi. We entrust all things and all of His priests into the loving hands of Jesus.

Pax Christi,
Kathy

Thursday Prayer ~

My God and Father, in response to the word of your Son on the Mount
of Olives, "Watch and pray with me," we ask you to accept us as special
helpers for your priests, on behalf of whom, we offer you each Thursday as
a sacrifice of love.
With a fervent desire of being such a helper of priests, I offer you, Father,
in complete confidence, each Thursday as a sacrifice of love on behalf of
all priests. Take this sacrifice of my poor love and transform it in your Heart
into the wine for the Chalice of Strength. Then, Father, send your angels
out with this chalice to all priests! Amen.


Most loving Jesus and our Lord, who have redeemed the world at the price of your Most Precious Blood, look mercifully on poor mankind, which in a greater part, lies in the darkness of error and in the shadow of death. Shine on it the fullness of the light of truth. Multiply, Lord, the apostles of your Gospel. Make them fervent and fruitful. Bless with your grace their zeal and their pains so that through them all unbelievers may come to know you and turn to you, their Creator and Redeemer.
Call back again into your sheepfold those who have strayed, and back into the womb of your only and true Church, the rebellious. O Most lovable Savior, hasten the long-awaited advent of your kingdom on earth. Attract all men to your sweetest Heart so that all may participate in the incomparable benefits of Redemption. Amen. ~ Pope Pius XII

 

ForHimthroughHer,

I went to Adoration and lifted them up in prayer, tonight. Thank you for your faithfulness in reminding us each week.

Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

 

your so very welcome Mario and Lee and everyone...

 

Yes thanks so much.

I must remmeber to pray for the Pope more too. I keep forgetting.

I am praying for a little miracle with Fr Corapi. I am praying he joins the forum so we can all have a chat with him. ..well maybe not such a little miracle... :roll:

But nothing is impossible to God and Mary knows how to twist His arm. :wink: We have had some very interesting visitors to the forum in the past and will have some more I believe in the future...when Mary calls her children come running...

 

That would be way cool...but he is probably too busy right now for forums. Does he know about us?

 

I doubt he knows . But maybe his angel could give him a push.

 

Can't hurt to pray on it.

 

Better yet, we should ask Our Lady... Fr. is Her Priest... And, this is Our Lady's forum...

 

Dear Friends,
These prayers take only a minute yet can so powerfully assist our priests. Let's continue encouraging our family and friends to be praying for our priests. God bless you.

Pax Christi,
Kathy

My God and Father, in response to the word of your Son on the Mount
of Olives, "Watch and pray with me," we ask you to accept us as special
helpers for your priests, on behalf of whom, we offer you each Thursday as
a sacrifice of love.
With a fervent desire of being such a helper of priests, I offer you, Father,
in complete confidence, each Thursday as a sacrifice of love on behalf of
all priests. Take this sacrifice of my poor love and transform it in your Heart
into the wine for the Chalice of Strength. Then, Father, send your angels
out with this chalice to all priests! Amen.

O my Jesus, I beg you on behalf of the whole Church, grant it love and the light of your Spirit and give power to the words of priests so that hardened hearts might be brought to repentance and return to you, O Lord.
Lord, give us holy priests. Your yourself maintain them in holiness. O Divine and Great High Priest, may the power of your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil's traps and snares which are continually being set for the souls of priests.
May the power of your mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring to naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priests, for you can do all things. I ask you, Jesus, for a special blessing and for light for the priests before whom I will make my confessions throughout my lifetime. Amen.
~St. Faustina

 

Dear Friends,

It is easy to become distracted with worldly things and difficulties in our lives, so much so that we miss opportunities to pray. Remember to visit Our Lord at an Adoration Chapel. He will bless you abundantly. While you are there, remember to offer prayers for our priests. They are offering so many for us.

Pax Christi,
Kathy


Thursday Prayer ~

My God and Father, in response to the word of your Son on the Mount
of Olives, "Watch and pray with me," we ask you to accept us as special
helpers for your priests, on behalf of whom, we offer you each Thursday as
a sacrifice of love.
With a fervent desire of being such a helper of priests, I offer you, Father,
in complete confidence, each Thursday as a sacrifice of love on behalf of
all priests. Take this sacrifice of my poor love and transform it in your Heart
into the wine for the Chalice of Strength. Then, Father, send your angels
out with this chalice to all priests! Amen.

Look kindly Lord, on your priests, religious and laymen who left all to witness to your word and your love. Be to each one of them a "powerful protector and their strong support, their shade from the midday sun, their shelter from the desert wind, a guard against stumbling, an assurance against a fall..." (Ecc 34:19).

Sustain them in difficult moments, direct their strength, console their hearts and crown their works with spiritual victories. Let them not seek for earthly success or the goods of this world, but only your triumph and the good of souls.

Your Cross, which accompanies them through their lives, speaks to them of heroism, renunciation and of peace. Be their comfort, their guide, their light and their strength, so that your name may be announced everywhere and that, surrounded by a larger and larger number of your children, they may sing a hymn of thanksgiving, of glory and redemption. Amen.

-Pope John XXIII

 

Dear Friends,

Pray without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17 Our priests are doing that for us.

Pax Christi,
Kathy

My God and Father, in response to the word of your Son on the Mount
of Olives, "Watch and pray with me," we ask you to accept us as special
helpers for your priests, on behalf of whom, we offer you each Thursday as
a sacrifice of love.
With a fervent desire of being such a helper of priests, I offer you, Father,
in complete confidence, each Thursday as a sacrifice of love on behalf of
all priests. Take this sacrifice of my poor love and transform it in your Heart
into the wine for the Chalice of Strength. Then, Father, send your angels
out with this chalice to all priests! Amen.

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 commend to
you 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
and instructed 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.

-Cardinal Cushing

 

Dear Friends,

I just finished reading an article worth passing along from our bi-monthly diocesan publication. http://faithmag.com/faithmag/column2.asp?ArticleID=1456
Here's an excerpt:
We don’t call priests to tell them we got a promotion, or a new car, or when we are expecting a new child. We call a priest when our soul is weighted with the loss of a loved one, when an ailing relative needs anointing, or when we are tormented by addictions or moments of doubt. They are constantly asked to give. And with fewer priests around, each of them is carrying a larger share of the load.
Don’t get me wrong, this is part of their vocation and there also are great blessings and advantages that come with the role. But I feel a good goal to keep is to make an effort to give back to a priest each time he gives to us.

Of course we know our prayers for them are first and foremost but the ideas in this short article are good reminders. Pass this along and encourage prayers from family and friends.

Pax Christi,
Kathy

My God and Father, in response to the word of your Son on the Mount
of Olives, "Watch and pray with me," we ask you to accept us as special
helpers for your priests, on behalf of whom, we offer you each Thursday as
a sacrifice of love.
With a fervent desire of being such a helper of priests, I offer you, Father,
in complete confidence, each Thursday as a sacrifice of love on behalf of
all priests. Take this sacrifice of my poor love and transform it in your Heart
into the wine for the Chalice of Strength. Then, Father, send your angels
out with this chalice to all priests! Amen.

Prayer ~

O Jesus, Good Shepherd, who have come to save what was lost, you have
established the priesthood of the Holy Church, so that the work of Redemption
might be perpetuated.
We ask you urgently: send laborers into your vineyard! Give your Holy Church
worthy and holy priests. Give your Holy Church religious brothers and sisters.
Grant that all those whom you have chosen from all eternity may follow your call.
Do not allow anyone who is unworthy to ascend the steps of the altar.
Confirm all priests and religious in their difficult vocation and bless their efforts
and labors.
Grant that they may be the salt of the earth which preserves from corruption and
that they may be the light of the world which enlightens the faithful by their words
and example.
Grant them wisdom, patience and fortitude in order that they may promote your
honor, propagate your Kingdom in the hearts of men, and guide the souls which
have been entrusted to them to eternal life. Amen.

 

Dear Friends,

Thank you for your weekly (and daily!) prayers for our priests. It is a wonderful devotion to pass on to family and friends as well as a beautiful testimony of our love for them. They continue to have more and more demands placed on them, making prayer imperative.

Pax Christi,
Kathy

O glorious Saint Joseph,
who, on the word of the angel
speaking to you in the night,
put fear aside to take your Virgin Bride into your home,
show yourself today the advocate and protector of priests.
Protector of the Infant Christ,
defend them against every attack of the enemy,
preserve them from the dangers that surround them
on every side.
Remember Herod's threats against the Child,
the anguish of the flight into Egypt by night,
and the hardships of your exile.
Stand by the accused;
stretch out your hand to those who have fallen;
comfort the fearful;
forsake not the weak;
and visit the lonely.
Let all priests know that in you
God has given them a model
of faith in the night, obedience in adversity,
chastity in tenderness, and hope in uncertainty.
You are the terror of demons
and the healer of those wounded in spiritual combat.
Come to the defense of every priest in need;
overcome evil with good.
Where there are curses, put blessings,
where harm has been done, do good.
Let there be joy for the priests of the Church,
and peace for all under your gracious protection.
Amen.

 

Kathy,

What a beautiful prayer to the strong, humble and silent saint in my life. It's well worth memorizing, methinks!

Praise you Father for the gift of the saints!

 

Dear Friends,

Your prayers are a precious gift to our priests and religious. Thank you for taking this minute or two for them and passing it on to others who may join in prayer.

Pax Christi,
Kathy


The Prayer of Opus Bono Sacerdotii
O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest and exemplar of priestly holiness and dignity, we are grateful to You for having chosen certain men for the ministerial priesthood by which You continue to instruct, admonish, forgive, nourish and strengthen Your Church. We are sorely aware of the great need of priests in our time to be confirmed in their sacred calling so that they may continue confidently in their ministry of mediating Your graces to men and of representing them before Your august majesty. Relying on the intercession of Holy Mary, Mother of priests, and of Saint Joseph, Her beloved spouse, we beg Your help for the priests who are the most troubled, tempted, discouraged and suffering. May the noble and sacred office of the priesthood, which has too often been reviled and scorned, regain its admirable stature in the sight of all men for Your greater honor and glory and for the sanctification and salvation of Your people. Amen

 

Dear Friends,

May you be blessed for your love and appreciation of our priests. Thank you for offering this short prayer for them and asking others to do the same.

Pax Christi,
Kathy

O Jesus, you are the Eternal High Priest. Because you are true God and true
man, you are the only Mediator between God and man. Through you, the merciful
Father gives man salvation and through you, man is led back to Him.
You have established priests as your collaborators to perpetuate in the Holy
Mass, the Sacrifice of your death on the Cross and to sanctify souls through
their ministry.
O Jesus, choose from all the people of the world worthy and numerous ministers
so that all souls may find salvation. O Jesus, Savior of the world, sanctify your
priests and seminarians.
O God, who have established your only-begotten Son as the Eternal High Priest,
grant, we beseech you, that those who are chosen by Christ as ministers of your
mysteries may be kept always faithful in the fulfillment of their service. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
-Pope Paul VI