You may have seen this Awesome series on the Priesthood called "Fishers Of Men" by
Grassroots Films.
It really brings home the need for serious prayers for our Priesthood and to inspired one another to pray for these, Fisher's Of Men.
Every Catholic man should be encouraged to inquire, ask, pray, that he may have a vocation to the beautiful profound vocation of self - sacrificing Love. It has been preached over the pulpit that each Catholic man should discern this first even before marriage.
Yet not every enquiry or discernment time will end up in a vocation to the priesthood. I was very inspired by a friend of mine who had the clarity of mind and the bravery to investigate his prospects and after 6 months it was decided by him with the seminary that the priesthood wasn’t the vocation for him. He was at peace about it and was happy to move on to the next door that the good Lord would open for him.
His openness has left a big impression on me. We all prayed for him here at SM, as he was in our
Seminarian Spotlight for about one month; so know that your prayers helped this young man clearly discern what the Lord wanted for him
"Who Is Going to Give the Sacraments to the next Generation?"- quote from Fishers of Men.
"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest",Lk 10:2. Let us pray that the labourers come forward to answer the call.
"Throughout the history of the Church, women, taking Our Lady as their model, have always been the ones to accompany and support, through prayer and sacrifice, the apostles and priests in their missionary activities".
(pg 35 Adoration, Reparation, Spiritual Motherhood For Priests)
Fishers of Men - Part 1
Fishers of Men - Part 2
The Pearl Of Great Price
God in the Streets!
Our Priests bringing Jesus to his people, pray for Priests...
But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, 11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you"Lk 10:10
Is God Calling You!
Prayer for Priests
Lord Jesus, You have chosen Your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim Your word and to act in Your name. For so great a gift to Your Church, we give You praise and thanksgiving. We ask You to fill them with the fire of Your love, that their ministry may reveal Your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that Your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned.
Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of Your dying and rising. In time of weakness send them Your Spirit, and help them to praise Your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit, put Your word on their lips and Your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted. And may the gift of Mary, Your mother, to the disciple whom You loved, be Your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed You in her human image, may form them in Your divine image, by the power of Your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
O Mary conceived without sin pray for use who have recourse to you.
O Mary conceived without sin pray for use who have recourse to you.
O Mary conceived without sin pray for use who have recourse to you
Here is a snippet from the wonderful essay 'MAMMA MARGARET
DON BOSCO'S FIRST COOPERATOR'
which offers great examples for imitatation on how a Mother can guide her Son (or Spiritual Mother can pray for priests & vocations),
:
MAMMA MARGARET
DON BOSCO'S FIRST COOPERATOR
(by Joseph Aubry)
At twenty years of age, he donned the clerical habit at Castelnuovo in the parish church according to the custom of those days. This change in his life was accompanied by strict resolves. We read, `At that time my mother kept an eye on me and it was plain that something was on her mind. She spoke to me on the night before I was to leave and I shall never forget her words:
"Dear John, you have taken the priestly habit and I am as happy as any mother could be. But never forget that it is not the habit that matters, but the effort to progress in virtue. If you ever come to have doubts about your vocation, be sure you never dishonour that priestly garb. Put it aside immediately. I would rather a poor peasant son than a priest who neglected his sacred calling".' 8
Then she added a thought that was probably much closer to his heart:
`When you came into the world I consecrated you to the Blessed Virgin Mary. When you began your studies, I inculcated this devotion in you. Now I want you to belong totally to her. Make your companions those who are devoted to Mary; and if you reach ordination, never cease to inculcate and spread this devotion.'
Don Bosco adds that when she finished speaking she was greatly moved and he himself had a lump in his throat. His words to his mother were,
`Mother, I thank you for everything you have done for me. Your advice will not be forgotten. I shall treasure it always as long as I live'. 9
Assuredly Margaret's words were sublime and inspired by the Holy Spirit. This uneducated peasant mother, now getting on in years,
entrusted her son to the most perfect of mothers. Margaret was to
accompany her son in prayer for the next six years, and with her assiduous work, noting with joy, whenever he came to spend a holiday with her, how John had progressed in the piety and seriousness that was expected of one who was preparing for the priesthood."
