Welcome to the Intercessory Prayer for Priests website, a ministry of Anima Christi Retreats. We will use this website as a resource for lay men and women to gain wisdom and insight into the power of intercessory prayer, and to unite in prayer and sacrifice for the Catholic Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Padre Pio and Christ's Priesthood
source: www.ewtn.com
By Kathleen Beckman
source: www.foundationforpriests.org
St. Josemaria Escriva
"A Priest Forever" From In Love with the Church, 38 |
Priesthood
"The priesthood leads one to serve God in a state which, in itself, is no better or worse than any other: it is simply different. But the priestly vocation is invested with a dignity and greatness which has no equal on earth. Saint Catherine of Siena put these words on Jesus' lips: I do not wish the respect which priests should be given to be in any way diminished; for the reverence and respect which is shown them is not referred to them but to Me, by virtue of the Blood which I have given to them to administer. Were it not for this, you should render them the same reverence as lay people, and no more... You must not offend them; by offending them you offend Me and not them. Therefore I forbid it and I have laid it down that you shall not touch my Christs. Some people keep searching for what they call the identity of the priest. How clearly Saint Catherine expresses it! What is the identity of the priest? That of Christ. All of us Christians can and should be not just other Christs, alter Christus, but Christ himself: ipse Christus! But in the priest this happens in a direct way, by virtue of the sacrament." |
I Will Follow is a powerful short film that encourages young men to consider a vocation to the priesthood. Featuring the moving testimonies of Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. Josh Johnson, this video chronicles how each heard an unexpected call to the priesthood. It is an excerpt from Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed.
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"Saint Therese of the Child Jesus
and the Priesthood" by Father Antonio Maria Sicari. OCD May 2000 (source: www.vatican.va) |
Holy Christians Guarantee Holy Priests
by Bishop Fulton Sheen Excerpt from The Priest is Not His Own (source: www.IgnatiusInsight.org) |
The Prayer of the Chalice
by Frances Nuttall
by Frances Nuttall
Father, to Thee I raise my whole being
-- a vessel emptied of self. Accept, Lord,
this my emptiness, and so fill me with
Thyself -- Thy light, Thy love, Thy
life -- that these Thy precious gifts
may radiate through me and over-
flow the chalice of my heart into
the hearts of all with whom I
come in contact this day
revealing unto them
the beauty of
Thy joy
and
Wholeness
and
the
Serenity
of Thy Peace
which nothing can destroy.
-- a vessel emptied of self. Accept, Lord,
this my emptiness, and so fill me with
Thyself -- Thy light, Thy love, Thy
life -- that these Thy precious gifts
may radiate through me and over-
flow the chalice of my heart into
the hearts of all with whom I
come in contact this day
revealing unto them
the beauty of
Thy joy
and
Wholeness
and
the
Serenity
of Thy Peace
which nothing can destroy.
Prayer for a Chalice of Strength
My God and Father in heaven, that night in the Garden, on the Mount of Olives, your Son told Peter: "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, who will promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defense?" (Mt 26:53).
Father, we ask you now: send these twelve legions of angels with chalices of strength out into the Gethsemane of the Holy Church to defend and assist our priests, who, strengthened by the power and presence of these angels, may faithfully fulfill their priestly missions. Amen.
(Source: www.opusangelorum.org)
My God and Father in heaven, that night in the Garden, on the Mount of Olives, your Son told Peter: "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, who will promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defense?" (Mt 26:53).
Father, we ask you now: send these twelve legions of angels with chalices of strength out into the Gethsemane of the Holy Church to defend and assist our priests, who, strengthened by the power and presence of these angels, may faithfully fulfill their priestly missions. Amen.
(Source: www.opusangelorum.org)
Preface to the Liturgy of the Chrism Mass
“Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. By your Holy Spirit you anointed your only Son High Priest of the new and eternal covenant. With wisdom and love you have planned that this one priesthood should continue in the Church. Christ gives the dignity of a royal priesthood to the people he has made his own.
From these, with a brother’s love, he chooses men to share his sacred ministry by the laying on of hands. He appoints them to renew in his name the sacrifice of our redemption as they set before your family his paschal meal. He calls them to lead your holy people in love, nourish them by your word, and strengthen them through the sacraments.
Father, they are to give their lives in your service and for the salvation of your people as they strive to grow in the likeness of Christ and honor you by their courageous witness of faith and love.”
“Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. By your Holy Spirit you anointed your only Son High Priest of the new and eternal covenant. With wisdom and love you have planned that this one priesthood should continue in the Church. Christ gives the dignity of a royal priesthood to the people he has made his own.
From these, with a brother’s love, he chooses men to share his sacred ministry by the laying on of hands. He appoints them to renew in his name the sacrifice of our redemption as they set before your family his paschal meal. He calls them to lead your holy people in love, nourish them by your word, and strengthen them through the sacraments.
Father, they are to give their lives in your service and for the salvation of your people as they strive to grow in the likeness of Christ and honor you by their courageous witness of faith and love.”
Excerpt from the new book by Kathleen Beckman:
Praying for Priests - A Mission for the New Evangelization
Praying for Priests - A Mission for the New Evangelization
Source: www.CatholicExchange.com
(Thanks Therese E. for this link!)
(Thanks Therese E. for this link!)
Read Mother Teresa's Reflections on the Priesthood ...
"The Dignity of the Priest" by Venerable Conchita Cabrera
(taken from To My Priests)
MORNING OFFERING FOR PRIESTS
Divine Saviour Jesus Christ, Who has entrusted the whole work of Your redemption and the welfare and salvation of the world, to priests as Your representatives, I offer You, through the hands of Your most holy Mother, all the prayers, works, sacrifices, joys, and sorrows of this day for the sanctification of Your priests.
Give us truly holy priests who seek nothing but Your greater glory and the salvation of our souls. Bless their words and prayers at the altar, in the confessional, in the pulpit, in all their work for the young, the sick, and the aged.
O Mary, Mother of the High Priest, protect all priests from dangers to their holy vocation. Obtain for me a true spirit of faith and humble obedience, so that I may see the priest as a representative of God and willingly follow him in the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ. Amen.
~~ taken from "Prayers for Today," published by Leaflet Missal Co.
Divine Saviour Jesus Christ, Who has entrusted the whole work of Your redemption and the welfare and salvation of the world, to priests as Your representatives, I offer You, through the hands of Your most holy Mother, all the prayers, works, sacrifices, joys, and sorrows of this day for the sanctification of Your priests.
Give us truly holy priests who seek nothing but Your greater glory and the salvation of our souls. Bless their words and prayers at the altar, in the confessional, in the pulpit, in all their work for the young, the sick, and the aged.
O Mary, Mother of the High Priest, protect all priests from dangers to their holy vocation. Obtain for me a true spirit of faith and humble obedience, so that I may see the priest as a representative of God and willingly follow him in the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Christ. Amen.
~~ taken from "Prayers for Today," published by Leaflet Missal Co.
Be Thou a Shepherd to Thy Shepherds
by Father Mark Kirby
by Father Mark Kirby
source: www.VultusChristi.org
A beautiful video by Seminarians from the Pontifical North American College in Rome - discussing priestly celibacy ...
Mary, Mother of Jesus
"Mary, Mother of Jesus, throw your mantle of purity over our priests. Protect them, guide them, and keep them in your heart. Be a Mother to them, especially in times of discouragement and loneliness. Love them and keep them belonging completely to Jesus. Like Jesus, they, too, are your sons, so keep their hearts pure and virginal. Keep their minds filled with Jesus, and put Jesus always on their lips, so that he is the one they offer to sinner and to all they meet. Mary, Mother of Jesus, be their Mother, loving them and bringing them joy. Take special care of sick and dying priests, and the ones most tempted. Remember how they spent their youth and old age, their entire lives serving and giving all to Jesus. Mary, bless them and keep a special place for them in your heart. Give them a piece of your heart, so beautiful and pure and immaculate, so full of love and humility, so that they, too, can grow in the likeness of Christ. Dear Mary, make them humble like you, and holy like Jesus. Amen." ~ Blessed Mother Teresa |
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Our Father Who Art in Heaven ...
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
That Thy name may be hallowed,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
That Thy kingdom may come,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
That Thy will may be done on earth as it is in heaven,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
So as to give us the bread of life,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
So as to forgive us our sins,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
That they may help us to overcome temptations,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
And deliver them and us from every evil. Amen.
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
That Thy name may be hallowed,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
That Thy kingdom may come,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
That Thy will may be done on earth as it is in heaven,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
So as to give us the bread of life,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
So as to forgive us our sins,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
That they may help us to overcome temptations,
Give us priests according to Your Heart.
And deliver them and us from every evil. Amen.
O Blessed Lady of the Tears, we entrust and consecrate the priesthood to your Immaculate Heart!
Grant, O Lady of the Tears, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all priests, that they may be authentic witnesses of your Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Give all priests and seminarians a deep love and devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist and to you, their loving Mother. Grant that every priest and seminarian will daily spend one hour with Jesus in the Eucharist and daily pray your most holy rosary! Grant all priests and seminarians the gift of purity, the gift of chastity and the gift of the divine love of your Son. May they proclaim the Truth with love and with courage! May we, too, comfort your Immaculate Heart by praying the rosary and adoring the Heart of Jesus your Son in the Most Holy Eucharist present in every Catholic Church in the world.
We ask all of our prayers through the Tears which you shed at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit! Amen!
Grant, O Lady of the Tears, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all priests, that they may be authentic witnesses of your Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord. Give all priests and seminarians a deep love and devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist and to you, their loving Mother. Grant that every priest and seminarian will daily spend one hour with Jesus in the Eucharist and daily pray your most holy rosary! Grant all priests and seminarians the gift of purity, the gift of chastity and the gift of the divine love of your Son. May they proclaim the Truth with love and with courage! May we, too, comfort your Immaculate Heart by praying the rosary and adoring the Heart of Jesus your Son in the Most Holy Eucharist present in every Catholic Church in the world.
We ask all of our prayers through the Tears which you shed at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit! Amen!