Picture: copyright © 2006 Francis de Ruijte. All rights reserved.

This painting was made in March 2006 by Pierre Girard, Sainte-Anne-de-Sorel, Quebec, Canada. Priests offered it to Mrs. Louise Ward, foundress of the Daisy Movement, at the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the movement’s foundation.

Prayer for the Growth and the Spreading of the Daisy Movement (Adopt a Priest Program)

Part One (1-50): in general

Address

1. Father,
   you seek worshipers in spirit and in truth
   (John 4:23-24),
   so we come to pray to you
   adoring you, praising you, contemplating you
   and meditating in your presence.
2. We rejoice while praying
   for you, Father, are Joy, Happiness, Love.
3. If we suffer, we try to forget it;
   if we are handicapped, we try to pass over that hurdle;
   if tired or discouraged, we do not want to think of it,
   but rather relate to you in joyfulness.
4. May our joyous adoration
   transform us through your Holy Spirit.

Biblical Basis for the Prayer of the Daisies
5. Your Son Jesus teaches us:
6. "The harvest is plentiful,
   but the laborours are few;
7. so pray the Lord of the harvest -- that are you, Father, --
   to send out laborours into his harvest"
   (Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:2; cf. John 4:35-36).
8. Jesus says this to the 72 disciples he sent into mission
   (Luke 10:1-3),
9. because he felt sorry for the people – and for us –
   who were like sheep without a shepherd
   ((Matthew 9:36).
10. The apostle Paul writes:
11. "Pray also for me
    to be given an opportunity to open my mouth
    and boldly make known the mystery of the gospel
    of which I am an ambassador (…);
12. pray that I may proclaim it as boldly as I ought to"
    (Ephesians 6:19-20).

The Purpose of this Prayer

13. So we pray you, Father,
    for the growth and the spreading
    of the Daisy Movement:
14. these "Daisies" are small prayer groups composed of seven persons who pray for an adopted priest,
    each Petal on a different day of the week,
    and offer their day for him
15. to support him in his ministry
    and in his spiritual life.

Memento of the Church

16. Father, remember your Church throughout the world;
    make us grow in love,
17. together with our pope, the cardinals, the bishops,
    the priests, the deacons and all their lay collaborators
    (cf. Eucharistic Prayer II).

The Goals of the Daisy Movement

18. Father, we pray you
    for the unity and brotherly love of priests among themselves;
    for the unity and harmony between priests and their bishop;
    for the unity and good relationship between religious priests and their religious superior;
19. we also pray you
    for priestly and religious vocations:
20. "Father,
    raise up among Christians
    abundant and holy vocations to the priesthood,
    who keep the faith alive
    and guard the [thankful] memory of your Son Jesus"
    (pope Benedict XVI, May 7, 2006).
21. Finally, we pray you, Father,
    for the brotherly cooperation between the laity and priests:
    may it compensate and even eliminate criticism and religious indifference.

Renewal

22. Father most holy,
    may the working of your Holy Spirit
    renew, revitalize and strengthen
    the entire Daisy Movement
23. and may the prayers, daily offerings and sacrifices of your People
    serve to sanctify its spiritual leaders
    and may they, in turn, help your Church
    to become a holier People
24. so that they may obtain,
    through their reciprocal collaboration, solidarity and love,
    and through the grace of the Holy Spirit,
25. the glorification of your holy Name
    and the accomplishment of their mission.

The Life in the Dioceses

26. In the dioceses where the movement is stagnant, weak or dying out,
    may your Spirit rekindle the fire
    and raise up new animators or coordinators;
27. in the dioceses where the movement is strong,
    may your Spirit maintain the zeal;
28. in the other dioceses of our country,
    may your Spirit expand the movement and make it flourish;
29. and that likewise beyond our frontiers, in all other nations of the world, on all the continents;
30. so that all languages and all cultures,
    under the leadership of their spiritual shepherds,
31. may sing your glory and all-powerfulness
    (cf. Romans 14:11)
32. and may celebrate you, Father,
    with your incarnated Son and the Holy Spirit,
    as the one true God.
33. You are the source of all that exists
    and the goal and hope
    towards which all beings are orientated
    and towards which your priests lead us.

The Need of Priests

34. Your priests, Father, hold a treasure in earthenware vessels,
    an extraordinary power which comes from you alone and not from them (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:7).
35. For you never take back your gifts and your call
    (cf. Romans 11:29);
36. besides, we, your People, redeemed by Christ,
    need such spiritual leaders
    on our way to our eternal destiny.
37. Indeed, holy Father,
    for our prayer to be realized
    we need good and holy priests
    to evangelise us
    and to show us how to become holy.
38. In our modern world, returning to paganism,
    or yet to be conquered to the Christian faith,
    we pray you in your goodness, Father,
    to send us such spiritual guides.

Priests Need Our Prayers

39. Father, we the faithful, often ask priests
    to pray for our intentions,
    but priests also need our prayers, our offerings,
40. as the Daisy Petals have been doing
    for over 25 years
    and as other forms of prayer partners for priests do.

We Do Not Know How To Pray Without the Holy Spirit

41. At the same time, we admit, Father,
    that we do not know how to pray as we should
    (cf. Romans 8:26).
42. And Saint James reminds us
    that our prayers are not heard
    because we have not prayed properly
    (cf. James 4:3).
43. Jesus tells us:
    "Do not babble as the pagans do"
    (Matthew 6:7).
44. That is why Saint Paul concludes
    that the Spirit comes to help us in our weakness,
    and the Spirit himself intercedes for us in groans that words cannot express.
45. And you, Father, who searches our hearts,
    know what the Spirit means,
    because the prayers that the Spirit makes for us
    are as you, Father, will (cf. Romans 8:26-27).
46. Indeed, your Spirit himself joins with our spirit
    to bear witness that we are your children, Father
    (cf. Romans 8,16).
47. And we cannot say
    "Jesus is Lord"
    except with the help of your Holy Spirit
    (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3).

The Role of the Holy Spirit

48. The Holy Spirit is our Paraclete on earth,
    our indispensable Intercessor
    (cf. John 14:16 and 16:7).
49. In the liturgy, our prayers always end with the words
    "through Jesus Christ (…)
    in the unity of the Holy Spirit".
50. The Holy Spirit transforms us in prayer.
    

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Part Two (51-100): Prayer Intentions

Address

51. Father of lights (James 1:17),
    almighty God, the Source of all love,
    we pray to you eagerly.

Jesus Teaches How To Pray

52. Your Son Jesus, our Paraclete with you in heaven
    (1 John 2:1),
    teaches us how to pray:
53. "Father,
    your name be held holy;
    your kingdom come;
    your will be done;
54. your Holy Spirit come upon us and cleanse us"
    (Luke 11,2-4; Matthew 6:9-11).

The Priest, A Man of Prayer

55. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they be men of prayer
    who, at the same time, need our prayers.
56. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they nourish the prayer of the faithful
    and be models of prayer.
57. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they show their spiritual life
    so that the faithful may draw from it strength and vitality.
58. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they make us discover the richness, the beauty and the depth of prayer.

The Value of the Priesthood

59. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they value their calling to the priesthood
    as a divine vocation
    and not as a human ambition,
60. and may they appreciate their celibacy
    as another special gift from you, Father,
    useful for their own spiritual life
    and for the good of the world.
61. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they remember
    that Jesus chose them to direct the Church,
    his spouse with no stain or wrinkle (cf. Ephesians 5:27),
    which is nevertheless composed of sinful members.

The Priest’s Basic Role

62. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they teach the doctrine of the gospel and of all the Bible,
    Tradition
    and the teaching of the Church’s Magisterium
    to a world thirsty for genuine spiritual life.
63. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they make us meet
    the living person of Jesus Christ,
    the Savior of the world (cf. John 4:42).
64. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they cooperate with the Holy Spirit
    to convert hearts grown cold.
65. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they liberate "prisoners" of a mundane, superficial or irreligious life.

The Sacraments

66. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they assist us to enter the Church through faith and baptism.
67. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they act as
    "holy ministers of your altar, Father,
    who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist,
    the sacrament of the supreme gift of Christ
    for the redemption of the world"
    (cf. Benedict XVI, May 7, 2006).
68. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they forgive us our sins.
69. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they bring us the unction when we are sick and before we return to you, Father.

Peace and Joy

70. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they bring the true peace of your Son Jesus to a violent world
    (cf. John 14:27).
71. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they expose that violence is futile,
    for violence begets violence.
72. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they bring the joy of your Holy Spirit
    to a sad and abused world
    (cf. Galatians 5:22).

Jesus and the God of Love

73. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they make us discover
    the beauty, the greatness and the holiness
    of a life united to Jesus Christ.
74. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they help us to find back the love of God,
    which is infinite Love, your very face, Father.

Time, Life and Eternity

75. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they make us understand the true meaning of time, of our work, of our life and even of suffering and illness.
76. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they make us become aware
    that time is a gift from you, Father, day after day,
    and that lost time never returns.
77. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they help us to understand
    that our daily activity is part of your divine plan
    to build the earthly city
    as a part of your Kingdom, Father,
    and not to separate it from it.
78. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they teach us
    that, for the little while we have to live,
    we choose for the true values,
    those which last and lead to you,
    rather than chosing pas-time or amusements.
79. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they show us that life is like an elevator
    going up towards happiness with you, Father,
    but that it can also go down to a dungeon of eternal misery;
    It is up to us to choose between holiness and lukewarmness.
80. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they explain that sacrifices have still their value and that they are even recommended for today.
81. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they remind us
    that we use to measure all things
    according to human standards,
    but as believers we should measure all things
    according to you, Father,
    and according to eternity.
82. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they also tell us
    that every deed and every word have eternal value
    but likewise everything that we omit or neglect.

Man’s Greatness

83. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they recall to us
    that every person is a sanctuary
    in which you, Father, dwell to be adored and praised.
84. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they do us remember
    that we are dust.
    And what precious dust in your eyes, Father!
85. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they tell believers
    that we serve God who is
    transcendent, sovereign, all-powerful and eternal,
    the Master of heaven and earth,
    Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
    Trinity and Unity,
    Love and Truth,
86. and that this is for us a great honour and a great privilege,
    but that this also implies obligations on our part
    to respect him, to honor him, to obey him, to praise him and to adore him,
87. and also to respect all his creatures,
    in particular our fellow men,
    respect for their life and their dignity.
88. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they inspire the faithful
    how to do more and better during their life towards you, Father,
    and also how to make this world more human, more fraternal and more interesting for everybody.

Missionaries and Their Support

89. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they encourage the faithful
    to sustain missionaries, in foreign countries as well as in their own, through prayer and financial contributions
90. and may they also support organisations that take care of new Churches in developing countries,
91. for instance "Aid to the Church in Need",
    founded in 1947 by Father Werenfried van Straaten, O. Praem. (= Norbertin, 1913-2003).

God’s Plan in Our Lives

92. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they show us
    your extraordinary divine plan, Father,
    for our lives apparently so very ordinary.
93. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they let us see
    your marvelous deeds, Father,
    everywhere around us right now.
94. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they help us to recognize presently the signs of the times for us today, for instance:
    the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965),
    a greater solidarity among nations,
    the charismatic movement,
    the Daisy Movement,
    the ecumenical movement, that is, the effort for unity among Christians,
    the respect for human rights.
95. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they teach us
    that we, the Christian people, still have today the prophetic vocation, that is, to speak in your name, Father, to our contemporary world.
96. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they, with the Holy Spirit,
    rekindle a world which is dying of coldness and indifference.
97. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they be aware that they are your instruments to transform a society which is loosing its values.
98. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they know
    that, thanks to their efforts,
    the nations of the earth
    can exult before God three times holy,
    Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
99. Father, we pray you for priests
    that they make us discover
    that the history of the human caravan,
    in a divine perspective,
    gives to mankind
    hope, direction and unity.

The Daisies’ Contribution

100. Father, we pray you for priests
     that they accept the support of the prayers of the Daisies in their priestly apostolate and in their spiritual life.

*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Part Three (101-150): The Prayer of the Priest

Address

101. Father, you are the Vinedresser,
     Jesus is the vine,
     and we are the branches united to him.
     Without him we can do nothing
     (John 15:1 and 5).

The Choice of Jesus

102. Your Son Jesus told us:
     "You did not choose me,
     no, I chose you;
     and I appointed you
     to go out and to bear fruit"
     (John 15:16).

Working With God

103. Father, I pray to you as a priest.
     "You alone, Father, can give Faith,
     but each one of us can witness.
     You alone, Father, can give Hope,
     but each one of us can give trust to his brothers.
     You alone, Father, can give Love,
     but each one of us can teach another to love.
     You alone, Father, can give Peace,
     but each one of us can sow unity.
     You alone, Father, can give Strength,
     but each one of us can support a discouraged brother.
     You alone, Father, are the Goal,
     but each one of us can show it to others.
     You alone, Father, are Light,
     but each one of us can let it shine in the midst of all.
     You alone, Father, are Life,
     but each one of us can give to others the desire to live.
     You alone, Father, can do what seems impossible,
     but each one of us can do what is possible.
     You alone, Father, suffice to yourself,
     but you prefer to count on each one of us"
     (cf. Father Clement Ridard, Prayer from Brazil, in "Lettre aux Intercesseurs", n. 118, April 2007, Équipes Notre-Dame, Paris, France).
     "Your presence, Father, makes all things marvellously beautiful"
     (cf. Father Marc Rivest, Le temps qui prie, page 148. [Montreal,] Éditions F.A. Inc., 1984).
     I pray to you, Father, the only true God, through Jesus whom you have sent to earth and who now shares your glory with the Holy Spirit (cf. John 17:3).

The Vocation

104. Father, I thank you as a priest
     for my Daisy Petals, these seven persons or couples
     who support me every day of the week
     in my priestly apostolate
     and in my spiritual life.
     May they participate in the merits of your Son Jesus in every Eucharist.
     I pray to you, Father, through the same Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
105. Father, I thank you as a priest
     for having had good Christian parents:
     their faith has been the foundation of my vocation to the priesthood.
     Because of their sacrifices I have been able to study many years.
     May your Son Jesus reward them for it.
     I pray to you, Father, through your dear Son Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
106. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     I am merely an ordinary man, not any better than another.
     I do not understand why your Son Jesus has chosen me to share his ministry.
     But I do know that it is a sign of his love for me as well as your love
     and both of you invite me to reply for the sake of love.
     Help me please to be always faithful to this grace.
     I pray to you, Father, in your goodness, through your Son Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
107. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     when I was young I dreamt of flying a plane like a bird in the air.
     But it is as if your Son Jesus said to me:
     "You will be piloting to the heavenly airport!",
     a bit like Jesus has said to the apostles
     Andrew and Peter, James and John:
     "I will make you into fishers of men"
     (cf. John 1:40; Mark 1:17).
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
108. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     after my primary studies,
     I had, for the first time in my life, to make choices.
     I made two choices:
     first, I chose between leadership and following;
     secondly, I chose for the most important area to work in, the spiritual domain.
     With the help of your Holy Spirit, I received the priesthood ordination many years later.
     I pray to you, Father, through your Son Jesus who shares your glory with the same Holy Spirit.

Prayer for the Clergy

109. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     for the pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth,
     to whom the charge of the universal Church has been entrusted.
     May the Holy Spirit illumine his decisions
     and confirm his actions.
     May he keep the Church in unity.
     Grant him strength, courage and discernment.
     I pray to you, Father, through your beloved Son Jesus Christ who shares your glory with the same Holy Spirit.
110. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     for the bishops, these successors of the apostles,
     to whom the direction of a diocese has been entrusted
     and also the link with the Church universal, in union with the pope.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
111. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     for all the priests in the world,
     for the deacons,
     for the pastoral workers,
     for the catechists,
     for all the lay collaborators of priests and bishops.
     I pray to you, Father, through your beloved Son Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
112. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     for the future of the Church,
     that is, for "the 80,000 seminarians
     in Africa, in Asia, in Oceania and in South America
     who are in training in the 900 seminaries of the young Churches"
     (Oeuvre Pontificale Saint-Pierre-Apôtre)
     to ensure that we can continue the evangelization of the world.
113. I also pray to you for the seminarians in Europe and North America.
114. Since 50 years, that is, since the Second Vatican Council,
     the vocations have suddenly diminished much in these areas.
     May the Holy Spirit ensure the relief.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glofy with the same Holy Spirit.
115. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     in a special way for missionaries,
     whether they are priests, religious or
     lay people,
     for all persons belonging to the Daisy Movement,
     either the praying Petals or the priests who benefit of their prayers,
     for the Aid to the Church in Need, all its involvements and projects;
     I pray to you for all the necessities of the Church.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.

The Life of the Priest

116. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     I thank you for the Daisy Movement;
     several priests who benefit of the movement consider it as an essential service.
     I pray to you, Fahter, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
117. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     may we among fellow priests maintain a true prayer life and a cordial fraternal life
     to support and encourage one another.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
118. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     may our priestly lives be genuine and sincere, faithful to your calling,
     not to do a job, but to give a true witness to build the Kingdom with your Son Jesus.
     I pray to you, Father, through the same Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
119. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     grant us to be joyfull priests
     for a sad priest is discouraging.
     Our good humour is more convincing and truer to life.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glofy with the Holy Spirit.
120. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     priests and lay people have several points in common.
     First, we share together life, the existence that we have received from you, our Creator.
     Secondly, priests and lay people have in common our baptismal vocation.
     We have become your children in the same way
     and we have the same mission in the Church.
     Thirdly, we have the same vocation to prayer. Together, priests and laity, we can worship you and praise you, intercede and ask for forgiveness.
     The priest presides the Holy Eucharist but the faithful
     -- and therefore the Daisies --
     can actively participate in it.
     Your entire people gives you thanks.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus Christ who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
121. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     give us the grace of your Holy Spirit
     that our pastoral work may not suffocate us.
     But may we be able to organize our time to renew ourselves and find a spiritual renewal.
     May we try to take a day off each week to deepen out our spiritual life.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.

The Work of the Priest

122. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     I thank you for the large number of priests who benefit of the Daisy Movement:
     these Daisies support them in their priestly ministry
     and in their spiritual life.
     I thank you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
123. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     we have divers talents:
     one is an eloquent preacher, another a poet;
     one is at ease with youth, another with older people;
     one is a deep thinker, another likes to laugh;
     one is a fine musician, another knows how to draw pictures;
     one loves to do sports, another prefers spirituality;
     one is a manual worker, another is an intellectual.
     May we respect one another,
     without envy, without competition and without rivalry,
     working together for God’s Kingdom,
     our diversity favoring unity.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
124. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     for all my fellow priests:
     working in a parish, in administration, in schools, in prisons, in hospitals or centres of golden age people, those who work with youth, in missionary countries, and all the others.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
125. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     for prisoners, suicidals,
     for terrorists and their victims,
     for soldiers, for politicians, for business people, for artists,
     for teachers in schools and their pupils,
     for professors and students in universities.
     May the Holy Spirit sustain them with his grace each according to his need.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
126. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     may good sens and the Holy Spirit’s grace always guide our work with courtesy and no excess.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
127. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     may we try to alleviate some people’s poverty among us,
     regretting the insensitivity of certain rich neighbours
     and the hypocrisy of certain institutions.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
128. Father, I pray to you as a priest.
     "The most serious injustice consists of not honoring God as God.
     When material riches absorb our attention we commit fraud
     because we grant to ourselves what belongs to God"
     (cf. Father Marc Rivest, Le temps qui prie, page 150. [Montreal,] Éditions F.A. Inc., 1984).
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
129. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     we are full of joy when, unexpectedly, we witness a conversion after many years. We give you thanks for it.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
130. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     especially for people who are about to die:
     "When the winter of human life arrives,
     our energy diminishes and our steps falter.
     But every winter day brings us closer to a new Spring.
     For us, human beings, the winter of human life is the threshold of a new season, the threshold of the resurrection.
     Our lives do not stop on account of the cruelty of suffering and death.
     For us Christians, when everything seems to end,
     everything indeed begins again.
     May our lives ascend always to the everlasting Spring."
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
131. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     may we pastors offer to the People of God and to every person of good will
     "the victory of hope over anguish,
     of fellowship over solitude,
     of peace over enxiety,
     of joy and beauty over boredom and disgust,
     of eternal visions over earthly ones,
     of life over death"
     (pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus, 57, dated February 2, 1974).
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.

The Difficulties of the Priest

132. Father, I pray to you as a priest
     for the shortage of priestly vocations and for the aging of priests in our regions.
     May the Holy Spirit illumine the hearts and give the strength to continue serving and to ensure successors.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
133. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     when our ministry makes us irritated, frustrated or exhausted,
     grant us to find back our balance and calm,
     with a smile on our face, and joy in our heart,
     without doing anything which we would regret later on.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
134. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     let daily tiredness, the many tasks to do, the numerous calls
     never keep us from reserving time to honor you
     and, through the Holy Spirit’s grace, let us not become discouraged.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
135. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     your Son Jesus on the cross has cried out:
     "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?"
     (Psalm 22:1; Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46).
     Every priest experiences solitude and discouragement at times.
     May the Holy Spirit grant to all the grace to accept and to persevere.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
136. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     we are all sinners, even we who are priests.
     We wish to reconcile ourselves regularly with you through the sacrament of forgiveness.
137. Some of us have caused scandals through sexual abuses.
     We are not proud of it and we pray for our fallen fellow priests.
     Have mercy on us all and give us the grace to be faithful.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
138. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     today the new evangelisation has become more and more complex and difficult.
     May the Holy Spirit give us wisdom, intelligence and prudence,
     not as natural talents
     but as his gifts.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the same Holy Spirit.
139. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     today’s religious pluralism, the large number of races and nationalities and languages make our ministry more arduous.
     Grant us the necessary strength to love all our brothers.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
140. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     may we be open-minded and receive the Jews, Buddhists and Moslems as our brothers who, with us, seek the same God, even if it is in a different way.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
141. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     sects such as the Pentecostals, Jehovah Witnesses, the New Age, and other groups sow confusion in the hearts of some Christians. May dialogue and the grace of the Holy Spirit open them to the truth of the Gospel. I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
142. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     we often have to deal with currents of false ideas.
     Several persons have joined esoterism, voodoo or pantheism;
     some persons do not distinguish between reincarnation and the resurrection.
     May your Holy Spirit illumine them and lead them on the right path.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
143. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     help us to support the opposition and the criticism of certain adversaries of the catholic faith where we are not welcome.
     May we show them our charity in union with your Son Jesus.
     I pray to you, Father, through the same Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
144. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     we meet many persons who say they believe in you but do not practice their faith.
     This kind of religious indifference absorbs much of our energy
     and only your Spirit can reverse this situation.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.

The Communion of Saints

145. Father, I pray to you as a priest,
     not alone, but with the universal Church
     and the Communion of the Saints.
     First of all, with the Virgin Mary,
     this young Israelite woman whom you have chosen to become the mother of your Incarnated Son Jesus Christ.
     We honor her as the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church.
     She extends her spiritual motherhood to all the members of the Church
     and she is interested in all her children.
146. That is why she appears all over in time and space:
     at Lourdes and Lisieux in France,
     at Fatima and Garabandal in Portugal,
     at Guatemala in Mexico,
     at Kibeho in Rwanda, Central Africa
     (cf. MIRROR, newsletter of Aid to the Church in Need, May/June 2007).
     She always exhorts us with the same message:
     to conversion, to penance, to prayer, to witnessing our faith.
     Let us offer her a crown of roses, in your presence, Father,
     for the salvation of the world.
     Our kind Mother forgets none of her children.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus, her son and your son, who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
147. Father, I still pray to you as a priest,
     in the Communion of the Saints,
     with the apostles:
     the twelve companions of Jesus
     and the apostles of all times and all nations.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
148. Father, I pray to you as a priest,
     always in the Communion of the Saints,
     with the martyrs, these witnesses of their faith through their blood,
     since the persecutions of the Roman Empire
     until the persecutions of our own century.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
149. Father, I pray to you as a priest,
     in the Communion of the Saints,
     with all the elected ones, the great saints of all centuries and of all corners of the world,
     who have committed their lives for the sake of their faith,
     for loving their brothers.
     They are too many to count them, but they are all with you, Father.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.
150. Father, I pray to you as a priest:
     give to our Petals to remain faithful to their commitment to pray for their adopted priest.
     They have their own cares, problems and preoccupations.
     Yet they take charge of our ministry and of our spiritual life to support us.
     Together we form a little spiritual family;
     they are our best collaborators.
     Bless them, Father, and keep them in your love.
     I pray to you, Father, through Jesus who shares your glory with the Holy Spirit.

**** **** **** **** **** **** ****

Part Four (151-161): Conclusion

Litany

151. Holy Mary,
     Immaculate Conception,
     you have received the fullness of grace
     and you are "of our fallen race our solitary boast",
     the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church,
     the patroness of the Daisy Movement,
     Queen of priests, your sons of predilection,
     pray for priests and pray also for us.
152. Saint Joseph,
     very chaste spouse of Mary,
     patron of the universal Church,
     pray for priests and pray also for us.
153. Saint Michael Archangel,
     defender of the Church,
     defend the priests who have difficulties,
     pray for priests and pray also for us.
154. Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226),
     you used to say that if you should happen to come upon a saint coming from heaven and, at the same time, some little poor priest,
155. you would first show honor to the priest, and excuse yourself to the saint
     (2 Celano 201),
     pray for priests and pray also for us.
156. Saint John Mary Vianney (1786-1859), pastor of Ars,
     patron of priests,
     pray for priests and pray also for us.
157. Blessed Msgr. Louis-Zéphirin Moreau (1824-1901),
     the 4^th bishop of the diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe (1875-1901),
     pray for priests and pray also for us.
158. Father Michael J. McGivney (1852-1890),
     founder of the Knights of Columbus (in 1882),
     pray for priests and pray also for us.
159. All saints
     with our guardian angels and all good angels,
     pray for priests and pray also for us.

Doxology

160. We pray to you, Father,
     with the Virgin Mary,
     with all the saints and angels,
161. and we give you all honor and glory,
     through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,
     with him and in him,
     in the unity of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete,
     now and forever.
     Amen.

O Father, I know I am your child
I’ve many proofs that you love me
I want to praise you with my song
The song of joy of being baptized

Nihil obstat: August 27, 2008 Marc Le Goanvec, O.F.M., Min. Prov.

Imprimatur:September 11, 2008 Msgr. François Lapierre, p.m.é., Bishop of Saint-Hyacinthe

Prayer: copyright © 2007 Francis de Ruijte. All rights reserved.

You can download the "Prayer of the Daisy Movement" free of charge from the Internet in six (6) languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Dutch.

This prayer is also available in a 40-page printed booklet in English and French; it is free. However, any gift to help us pay the costs of printing and distribution will be gratefully accepted. Many thanks.

Information on the Daisy Movement:

Prayer has an outer side and an inner side. Our prayer often is on the outside and suffers of a lack of inner depth. How can we meditate in outer noise, in the hullabaloo of voices? Meditation needs silence. The above prayer wishes to help you to find the inner side.

Reading this prayer just once and then putting it aside equals forgetting it as if you had never read it. You need to read it and read it again, many times, slowly, while meditating. After a number of meditated readings you will discover its depth and true value.

This prayer came out of silence; it is the fruit of silence. You will need to read and meditate it also in silence. In due time, you will arrive at contemplation and adoration.

Francis de Ruijte, May 14, 2007

Document created: summer 2006 – fall 2007

Latest update: 2008 September 11.