A Prayer for Priests

The front page of one of the Stella Clarae newsletters

Yesterday I was blessed with a lovely surprise in the mail, a copy of Stella Clarae, the lastest newsletter from the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration of Our Lady of Solitutde Monastery in Arizona. Their summer 09 edition is primarily dedicated to The Year of the Priest.

When I popped over to their website Desert Nuns I saw that they also had a new site up dedicated solely to priests, called The Year of the Priest with the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, I recommend you to earmark this site!

Here is one of the beautiful prayers from Stella Clarae..

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

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 Your lonely and desolate priests; for Your young priests; for Your dying priests; for the souls of Your priests in purgatory.

But above all I recommend to You the priests dearest to me: ....... the priest who baptized me; the priest who absolved me from my sins; the priest at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion; the priests who taught and instructed me; all the priest to whom I am indebted in any other way. Jesus, keep them all close to Your heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity. Amen.

Prayer to the Precious Blood for Priests & Vocations

The month of the Precious Blood is almost at a close but I wanted to share one of the most beautiful prayers, dedicated to priests and vocations through the power of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. I recommend this powerful prayer all year round! This prayer has come from a Precious Blood Manual called, "The Precious Blood and Mother" from the Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood in NY.

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS AND THOSE DESTINED FOR THE PRIESTHOOD

1. My beloved Jesus, by the Precious Blood which you shed on the day of the Circumcision, deign to watch over the infancy and early education of the children whom You have destined to minister at the altar, that they may be preserved spotless till consecrated to You by the holy unction. Bless the families that honor Your Precious Blood, and spread this devotion by choosing from them a large number of vocations to the preisthood, and by maintaining their fervor till the close of their lives.

Our Lady of the Precious Blood, watch over the living chalices of the Blood of Jesus. Amen

2. Lord Jesus, by the Precious Blood which You shed in the Garden of Olives, take pity on all aspirants to the priesthood who, through the temptations of the evil one or dread of the responsiblities of the sacred ministry, are in danger of losing their vocation. Impart to these tortured souls sufficient courage to make the sacrifices by which the Eucharistic Chalice must be purchased; and in return for their generosity, inebriate them deliciously at the altar with the Blood which, in heaven, will be their eternal source of delight.

Our Lady of the Precious Blood, watch over the living chalices of the Blood of Jesus. Amen

3. Lord Jesus, by the Precious Blood shed in Your painful Scourging, shield with Your own especial protection and that of Your Immaculate Mother, all the ministers of the sanctuary, so that having renounced the goods of earth in order to belong entirely to You, they may every day offer and receive Your Body and Blood with such pious dispositions as to enable You to find in their hearts "a paradise of delight."

Our Lady of the Precious Blood, watch over the living chalices of the Blood of Jesus. Amen

4. Lord Jesus, by the Precious Blood which You shed in Your Crowning with Thorns, we beseech You to maintain our clergy in such filial submission to the Holy See and its representatives, as will forever secure for them the veneration, confidence and docility of the faithful children of Holy Church.

Our Lady of the Precious Blood, watch over the living chalices of the Blood of Jesus. Amen

5. Lord Jesus, by Your Precious Blood shed on the way to Calvary, take pity on priests who are victims of injustice, and who, like their adorable Model, received in return for their devotedness, but crosses, trials and persecutions.

Our Lady of the Precious Blood, watch over the living chalices of the Blood of Jesus. Amen

6. Lord Jesus, by the Blood of Your Crucifixion, inflame with ever-increasing zeal the dispensers of Your Blood. Grant that thirsting like You for souls, they may continue the work of Your Bloody Passion, increasing its efficacy by applying its merits. Succor, most of all, the poor missionaries, who after watering with their sweat and their tears the soil in which they have sown the divine seed, may still be called upon to dye with their blood the land upon which they planted the cross.

Our Lady of the Precious Blood, watch over the living chalices of the Blood of Jesus. Amen

7. Lord Jesus, through the Blood and Water shed by You after death, take special pity, we beseech You, on those among Your ministers who will soon be mown down by death. If, through human frailty, they have become the debtors of Your justice, grant that this very day, the infinitely Precious Blood may discharge their obligations.

Our Lady of the Precious Blood, watch over the living chalices of the Blood of Jesus. Amen

Novena to St John Vianney for Priests

Novena to St John Vianney (The Cure of Ars)

for Priests and Vocations to the Priesthood

JULY 27: ARDENT FAITH

Saint John Marie Baptist Vianney you were born of a deeply religious mother; from her you received the Holy Faith; you learned to love God and to pray. At a young age, you were seen kneeling in the front of the statue of Mary. Your soul was supernaturally carried towards the things on High. Despite the high cost, you answered your vocation!Against many obstacles and contradictions, you had to fight and suffer to become the perfect priest which you were. But your deep spirit of faith supported you in all these battles. 0 Great Saint you know the desire of my soul; 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 the depth of faith.Many of my thoughts, words, and actions are useless for my sanctification and for my salvation, because this supernatural spirit does not stir up my life. Help me to be better in the future. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention silently your special intentions).



Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

**o0o**

JULY 28 COMPLETE TRUST IN GOD

Saint John Marie Baptist Vianney, what confidence the people had in your prayers! You could not leave your old rectory or your humble church without being surrounded by imploring souls, who appealed to you as they would have appealed to Jesus Himself during His earthly life. And you, O good Saint, gave them hope by your words, which were full of love for God. You, who had always counted entirely on the heart of God, obtain for me a deep filial trust in His Providence. As the hope of divine goods fills my heart, give me courage and help me to always obey the Commandments of God. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

**o0o**

JULY 29: TRUE LOVE OF NEIGHBOR

Saint John Marie Baptist Vianney because of your love of God you showed great charity towards your neighbor. You could not preach on the Love of God without burning tears of love. During your last years, it seemed as though you could not talk about any thing else or live for anything else. Thus you sacrificed yourself to your neighbor by consoling, absolving and sanctifying them to the limits of your strength. Your charity inspires me to greater love of God, a love which is shown more by acts then by words. Help me to love my neighbor generously as Christ loves them.Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

**o0o**

JULY 30: HORROR OF SIN

Saint John Mary Baptist Vianney, you were so adamant against sin, yet so sympathetic and so ready to welcome the sinner. I come to you today as if you were still alive, as if I were kneeling at your feet and you could hear me. Bend towards me, listen to the repentant confidence for the weaknesses and miserable deeds of mine. Priest of the Lord, inexhaustible Confessor, obtain for me the horror for sin. You wanted us First to avoid the occasion of sin. I want totake your advice and make the resolution to break bad habits and to avoid the dangerous occasions of sin. Help me today to examine my conscience.Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

**o0o**

JULY 31: CONFESSOR OF SOULS

O Holy Priest of Ars, you knew how important was a good confession for the Christian life. It was to procure the happy fruits of millions of souls that you agreed to be in an uncomfortable confessional, which was like a prison, up to 15 to 16 hours on certain days. I will try to develop the habit of frequent confession, to prepare properly each time and to have always regret for my sins, so that the grace of final perseverance but also the sanctification of my soul will be assured. Ask this grace for me.Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

**o0o**

AUGUST 1: REAL PRESENCE

O Holy Priest of Ars, whose only comfort in this world was the real presence of Jesus in the tabernacle, was it not your great joy to distribute the Eucharist to the pilgrims who visited you? You refused Communion to the souls who refused to reform but to souls of goodwill you opened wide the doors of the Eucharistic Feast.You, who each day at Holy Mass received Holy Communion with great loves, give me some of your fervor. With freedom from mortal sin, obtain for me a sincere desire to profit from receiving Holy Communion. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

**o0o**

AUGUST 2: DISPELLER OF SATAN

O Holy Priest of Ars, the infamous attacks of the devil which you had to suffer and the trials which disheartened you by fatigue would not make you give up the sublime task of converting souls. The devil came to you for many years to disturb your short rest but you won because of mortification and prayers. Powerful protector, you know the temptor's desire to harm my baptized and believing soul. He would have me sin, by rejecting the Holy Sacraments and the life of virtue. But good Saint of Ars dispel from me the traces of the enemy.Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

**o0o**

AUGUST 3: EXQUISITE PURITY

O Holy Priest of Ars, a witness of your life made this magnificent praise of you:'We would have taken him for an angel in a mortal body." You so edified others: the modesty and the exquisite purity radiated from your body. With such charm and with such enthusiasm you preached to others about these beautiful virtues which you said resembled the perfume of a vineyard in bloom.Please I beg you to join your entreaties to those of Mary Immaculate and Saint Philomena in order that I guard always, as God asks me, the purity of my heart. You, who have directed so many souls towards the heights of virtue, defend me in temptations and obtain for me the strength to conquer them. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

**o0o**

AUGUST 4: DESIRE FOR HEAVEN

O Holy Priest of Ars, your precious remains are contained in a magnificent reliquary, the donation from the priests of France. But this earthly glory is only a very pale image of the unspeakable glory which you are enjoying with God. During the time you were on earth, you used to repeat in your dejected hours, 'one will rest in the other life." It is done, you are in eternal peace, and eternal happiness. I desire to follow you one day. Until then, I hear you saying to me: "You should work and fight as long as you are in the world." Teach me then to work for the salvation of my soul, to spread the good news and good example and to do good towards those around me in order that I will receive the happiness of the Elect with you. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. Pray for me during this novena especially for ... (mention silently your special intentions).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.

O St John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for us and for all priests!

Feast day of the Precious Blood of Jesus: July 1st

A prayer that may be helpful during an adoration hour for the souls of our priests and clergy:

Precious Blood of Jesus prayer: O loving Jesus Christ, Whose mercy is endless, we adore Your Agonizing Heart which bears great pains and sorrows for the salvation of man; Divine Lamb of God, Son of God and Son of the Virgin Mary, God and Man. You who suffered sorrowfully for the love of mankind; Who in great fear and anguish sweated blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, we adore Your most Precious Blood and the sorrow in Your Agonizing Heart. We beg You for Your holy Church, the pope, the cardinals, bishops, clergy, and non-clergy who are under the shade of Your most Precious Blood; protection, peace and love, so that through the intercession of St. Michael and all the Archangels of heaven, we might conquer the Red Dragon. Amen.

Our Father*…Hail Mary*…Glory Be*…

God Bless

"Pray the Lord Of The Harvest To Send Out Labourers!"

From the booklet: Adoration, Reparartion, Spiritual Motherhood

MEETING WITH THE PRIESTS AND DEACONS IN FREISING, GERMANY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2006

“Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers.” This means that the harvest is ready, but God wishes to enlist helpers to bring it into the storehouse. God needs them. He needs people to say: Yes, I am ready to become your harvest labourer; I am ready to offer help so that this harvest which is ripening in people’s hearts may truly be brought into the storehouses of eternity and become an enduring, divine communion of joy and love.

“Pray the Lord of the harvest” also means that we cannot simply “produce” vocations; they must come from God. Unlike other professions, we cannot simply recruit people by using the right kind of publicity or the correct type of strategy. The call which comes from the heart of God must always find its way into the heart of man. And yet, precisely so that it may reach into hearts, our cooperation is needed.

To pray the Lord of the harvest means above all to ask him for this, to stir his heart and say: “Please do this! Rouse labourers! Enkindle in them enthusiasm and joy for the Gospel! Make them understand that this is a treasure greater than any other, and that whoever has discovered it, must hand it on!”

We stir the heart of God. But our prayer to God does not consist of words alone; the words must lead to action so that from our praying heart a spark of our joy in God and in the Gospel may arise, enkindling in the hearts of others a readiness to say “yes.”

As people of prayer, filled with his light, we reach out to others and bring them into our prayer and into the presence of God, who will not fail to do his part. In this sense we must continue to pray the Lord of the harvest, to stir his heart, and together with God touch the hearts of others through our prayer. And he, according to his purpose, will bring to maturity their “yes,” their readiness to respond: the constancy, in other words, through all this world’s perplexity, through the heat of the day and the darkness of the night, to persevere faithfully in his service.

Hence they will know that their efforts, however arduous, are noble and worthwhile because they lead to what is essential, they ensure that people receive what they hope for: God’s light and God’s love.

BENEDICT XVI

MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER
FOR THE 46th WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS 3 MAY 2009, FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Theme: Faith in the divine initiative - the human response
An Excerpt:

The exhortation of Jesus to his disciples: “Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38) has a constant resonance in the Church. Pray! The urgent call of the Lord stresses that prayer for vocations should be continuous and trusting. The Christian community can only really “have ever greater faith and hope in God's providence” (Sacramentum Caritatis, 26) if it is enlivened by prayer/

Dear friends, do not become discouraged in the face of difficulties and doubts; trust in God and follow Jesus faithfully and you will be witnesses of the joy that flows from intimate union with him. Imitating the Virgin Mary whom all generations proclaim as blessed because she believed (Lk 1:48), commit yourselves with every spiritual energy, to realise the heavenly Father’s plan of salvation, cultivating in your heart, like her, the ability to be astonished and to adore him who is mighty and does “great things”, for Holy is his name (Lk 1:49).

From the Vatican, 20 January 2009
BENEDICT XVI

Prayer for the Holy Father

O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all Your faithful people, mercifully look upon Your servant Pope Benedict 16th, whom You have chosen as the chief Shepherd to preside over Your Church. We beg You to help him edify, both by word and example, those over whom he has charge, that he may reach everlasting life together with the flock entrusted to him. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.