Prayers for Holy Priests

   PRAYER FOR PRIESTS 

O Jesus,

      our great High Priest

      hear my humble prayers

      on behalf of your priests.

Give them a deep faith

      a bright and firm hope   

      and a burning love

      which will ever increase

      in the course of their priestly life.

In their loneliness

      comfort them

In their sorrows

      strengthen them

In their frustrations

      point out to them that it is through suffering

      that the soul is purified

      and show them that

      they are needed by the Church

      they are needed by souls

      they are needed for the work of redemption.

O Loving Mother Mary

      Mother of Priests

      take to your heart your sons who are close to you

      because of their priestly ordination

      and because of the power  which they have received

      to carry on the work of Chris

      in a world which needs them so much.

Be their comfort

      be their joy

      be their strength

      and especially help them

      to live and to defend the ideals

    of consecrated celibacy.   Amen.

                                  +John Joseph Cardinal Carberry