Though they may find great consolation in shepherding souls towards Christ, priests really do have a difficult vocation. Imagine being the parent of not one, two, even five children, but hundreds, if not thousands! It’s not easy to give up your life in total service to God and His people. They need our prayers. Please consider adding an intention for a specific priest in your life into your daily prayers. Here is a beautiful prayer that you can use if you find yourself at a loss for words:
A PRAYER FOR A PRIEST
O Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hear my humble prayers
on behalf of your priest, Father [N].
Give him a deep faith,
a bright and firm hope and a burning love
which will ever increase in the course of his priestly life.
In his loneliness, comfort him.
In his sorrows, strengthen him.
In his frustrations, point out to him
that it is through suffering that the soul is purified.
And show him that he is needed by the Church,
he is needed by souls,
he is needed for the work of redemption.
O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests,
take to your heart your son
who is close to you because of his priestly ordination,
and because of the power which he has received
to carry on the work of Christ
in a world which needs him so much.
Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength,
and especially help him to live
and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
Amen.
(Source: Catholic.org)
You can access a printable .pdf copy HERE.
