76. Prayer for Vocations
Holy and provident Father, you are
the Lord of the vineyard and the harvest and you give each a just reward for
their work. In your design of love, you
call men and women to work with you for the salvation of the world. We
thank you for Jesus Christ, your living Word, who has redeemed us from our sins
and is among us to assist us in our povety. Guide the flock to which you have
promised possession of the Kingdom. Send new workers into your harvest and set
in the hearts of pastors faithfulness to your plan of salvation, perseverance
in their vocation and holiness of life.
Christ Jesus, who on the shores of
the
Spirit of Holiness, Who pour out your
gifts on all believers and, especially, on those called to be Christ's
ministers, help young people to discover the beauty of the divine call. Teach
them the true way of prayer, which is nourished by the Word of God. Help them
to read the signs of the times, so as to be faithful interpreters of your
Gospel and bearers of salvation.
Mary, Virgin who listened and Virgin
of the Word made fleesh in your womb, help us to be open to the Word of the
Lord, so that having been welcomed and
meditated upon, it may grow in our hearts. Help us to live like you the
beatitudes of believers and to gedicate ourselves with unceasing charity to
evangelizing all those who seek your Son. Grant that we may serve every person,
becoming servants of the Word we have heard, so that remaining faithful to it we may find our
happiness in living it.
Amen!
Source: http://www.rockvoc.org/main/Families/prayer_for_priests.htm (Rockford Diocese, Office of Vocations)
May we thank those
Priests who serve the Lord so faithfully and for inspiring others to follow
Jesus more closely.
We pray that Jesus
will continue to bless the work they do and surround them with His love.
O God, fill our
hearts with your love today. May we praise you with joy and serve you in our
brothers and sisters.
We ask this through
Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: A Gift From
78. Prayer for Joyful Priests
Heavenly Father,
give the Church today
many, holy, prayerful and joyful priests.
May their enthusiasm and good humor
inspire the faithful,
transform our parishes,
extend your Kingdom
and bring you glory.
We pray you through Jesus Christ, your Son.
Amen.
Dedicated to Father Jean-Marc Beaudet, parish priest at
79. Prayer for a Particular Priest
Lord Jesus,
we often ask your priests to pray for us:
our intentions, our needs, our problems.
This time, I want to reverse the order and pray for your priests, your
servants,
and in particular I wish to pray for Father (name hem) :
give him your Spirit's blessing,
let him radiate in our milieu,
may he be a spiritual guide for us,
support him in his ministry,
nourish his spiritual life.
Thank you for giving him to us as a priest.
I pray you, risen Lord,
you who are our Eternal High Priest
and sit at the right hand of the Father.
Amen.
Dedicated to Father Daniel Courtemanche, priest in parish work in
80. PRAYER FOR A
MATURE FAITH
(adapted to praying
for a priest)
Lord, I wish to
believe in You.
Let my faith be full
and unreserved, and let it penetrate my thoughts, my ways of judging Divine
things and human things.
Let my faith be free.
Let my faith be strong; let it not fear the difficulties or the problems of
which the experience of our life, eager for light, is full; let it not fear the
hostility of those who question it, attack it, reject it, deny it, but let it
be strengthened in the intimate proof of Your truth; let it resist the attack
of criticism.
[Let it see the the
priest for whom I pray as a man of God, chosen by you in a special way.]
Let my faith be
joyful and give peace and gladness to my spirit, and dispose it for prayer with
God and conversation with all.
(Adaptation to a prayer for a priest made by Francis de Ruijte, November 20, 2003.)
81. Praying The
Offering Of Self (adapted to praying for priests)
Lord Jesus, You told
your friends not to worry about the future. You showed them how to have the
attitude of simple trust that young children have, so that they could place
themselves into the caring hands of Your Father. And so, I ask for the power of
Your Spirit that I may remain positive throughout all that is ordinary in my
daily life. I know that Your touch can change people and situations, and so I
ask You to join me in offering to Our Father not only the good things of this
day but also the suffering and sacrifices that I want to offer cheerfully and
lovingly and in a quiet and hidden way [in particular when I offer my day as a
daisy fo "our" adopted priest]. And so may any dificulties and
frustration and pain of this day be transformed in Your Presence for the
benefit of [this priest]. Amen.
(Additions made by
Francis de Ruijte, 21 November 2003.)
82. Offering
of the Sick for Vocations
Dear
Lord, here is a new day you have given me in which to love you and to help
others to love you. Above all things, help me to love and accept your holy
will. Lord Jesus, in giving me this cross of my illness, it was your desire to
bring me nearer to your Divine Heart. I want to bring others also to know you better,
to love you more, and for this I know that good and holy priests are necessary;
so I will offer my cross, united with yours, for vocations to the holy
priesthood. Amen.
Teach me, O Lord, to do your will, for you are my God. Keep me, Lord, as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. O Lord, remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us. Amen.
83. Prayer to the
Virgin of the Magnificat on the
Vocation and
(Pope John Paul II)
O Most Blessed Virgin
Mary,
Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church, With joy and wonder we seek to make
our own your Magnificat, joining you
in your hymn of thankfulness and love.
With you we give
thanks to God,
"whose mercy
is from generation to generation",
for the exalted vocation
and the many forms of mission
entrusted to the lay faithful.
God has called each
of them by name
to live his own communion of love
and holiness
and to be one
in the great family of God's children.
He has sent them forth
to shine with the light of Christ
and to communicate the fire of the Spirit
in every part of society
through their life
inspired by the gospel.
O Virgin of the Magnificat,
fill their hearts
with a gratitude and enthusiasm
for this vocation and mission.
With humility and
magnanimity
you were the "handmaid of the Lord";
give us your unreserved willingness
for service to God
and the salvation of the world.
Open our hearts
to the great anticipation
of the
and of the proclamation of the Gospel
to the whole of creation.
Your mother's heart
is ever mindful of the many dangers
and evils which threaten
to overpower men and women
in our time.
At the same time your
heart also takes notice
of the many initiatives
undertaken for good,
the great yearning for values,
and the progress achieved
in bringing forth
the abundant fruits of salvation.
O Virgin full of
courage,
may your spiritual strength
and trust in God inspire us,
so that we might know
how to overcome all the obstacles
that we encounter
in accomplishing our mission.
Teach us to treat the affairs
of the world
with a real sense of Christian responsibility
and a joyful hope
of the coming of God's Kingdom, and
of a "new heaven and a new earth".
You who were gathered
in prayer
with the Apostles in the Cenacle,
awaiting the coming
of the Spirit at Pentecost,
implore his renewed outpouring
on all the faithful, men and women alike,
so that they might more fully respond
to their vocation and mission,
as branches engrafted to the true vine,
called to bear much fruit
for the life of the world.
O Virgin Mother,
guide and sustain us
so that we might always live
as true sons and daughters
of the Church of your Son.
Enable us to do our part
in helping to establish on earth
the civilization of truth and love,
as God wills it,
for his glory.
Amen
Conclusion of the
Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici On the Vocation and the
Purpose:
Our
Lady gave us this simple Chaplet for priests. She asks that it be said often
throughout the day and night and that praying it will release many graces for
priests.
History:
This
simple chaplet for priests was given to the Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity
by our Lady of Bayou at the beginning of her visit at
The
form of the chaplet:
The
chaplet is to have a cross, one bead, then a medal with our Mother of Divine
Love, Patroness of Priests on one side and the Holy Trinity on the other side.
(Our members from
How
to pray the chaplet:
Begin
and end with the sign of the cross.
Pray
the Creed on the cross.
Pray
the “Our Father” on the first bead.
Pray
the “Hail Mary” on the medal.
Pray
“O Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us and on all our priests” (you
may name a priest) on the 33 beads.
On the medal pray:
“O
Sacrament most holy, o sacrament divine,
all
praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.”
(May
be sung)
“Blessed
be the Holy and Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother
of God.”
“Mary,
Queen of Divine Love, Patroness of Priests, pray for us.”
“God
our Father, please send us holy priests, all for the Sacred and Eucharistic
Heart of Jesus, all for the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, in union
with Saint Joseph.”
"Ave,
Ave, Ave Maria. Ave, Ave, Ave Maria."
(may
be sung)
Pray
the “Glory Be” on the single bead.
Pray
the “Saint Michael Prayer” on the cross. Amen.
(sign
of the cross)
Prayer
to St. Michael
St.
Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of
(History: This powerful prayer of exorcism was composed by Pope Leo XIII; in a vision, he had been shown the fearful battle to be waged between Satan and St. Michael, over the Church of the future. Now, as never before, the Church needs the intercession of St. Michael! Please say this prayer every day.)
85. Daily Offering to the Holy Trinity for Priests
Holy
Blessed Trinity, I offer You all my prayers,
works, joys and sufferings of this day.
No matter what little thing I do, I offer it to You. In reparation
for
holy priests.
For
the conversion of priests.
For
more priests.
For
the return of many priests who have left
the priesthood.
For
the priests still in Purgatory,
especially those most in need.
I
offer myself this day (optional: and hereafter until my death) as an offering for holy priests, in union with the suffering, death and
resurrection of Jesus. And in union with the Sacred Body and Blood of Jesus, Consecrated daily on all the altars of the
world by your holy priests. I make this
offering freely, trusting that You will take care of all my needs, spiritual and temporal for the
state in life to which You have called
me.
I
make this offering through The
Immaculate Hands and Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Divine
Love, that she might take this imperfect
prayer and present it to her Son, Jesus,
that through his Sacred Heart, He might
perfect it and present it to our Father
by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
(With ecclesiastical approbation.)
86. Rosary of
Intercession for Priests
V/ Lord, open my lips.
R/ And we shall praise your name.
V/ O God, come to our aid.
R/ O Lord, make haste to help us.
Joyful Mysteries:
1. Annunciation: For
obedience and loyalty.
2. Visitation: That
priests make Christ present.
3. Nativity: For the
Pope and Bishops.
4. Presentation: For
our Bishop and his priests.
5. Finding: For
priestly holiness.
Sorrowful Mysteries:
1. Agony: For priests
who suffer.
2. Scourging: For
those persecuted for their priesthood.
3. Crowning: For
victory over all temptation.
4. The Cross: For
priests in foreign missions.
5. Crucifixion: For
perseverance.
Glorious Mysteries:
1. Resurrection: For
our own parish clergy.
2. Ascension: For priests
in religious life.
3. Pentecost: For the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
4. Assumption: For
deceased priests.
5. Coronation: For
priestly vocations.
87.
Prayer to
God,
you have instructed many nations through the preaching of the Apostle Paul. Let
the power of his intercession with You help us [and our priest] who venerate
his memory this day.
Amen.
88.
Another Prayer to Saint Paul the Apostle [for priests]
O
Glorious Saint Paul, after persecuting the Church you became by God's grace its
most zealous Apostle. To carry the knowledge of Jesus, our divine Savior, to
the uttermost parts of the earth you joyfully endured prison, scourgings,
stonings, and shipwreck, as well as all manner of persecutions culminating in
the shedding of the last drop of your blood for our Lord Jesus Christ.
[May
your example inspire priests today to be zealous in their service to God's
people.]
Obtain
for [our priests] the grace to labor strenuously to bring the faith to others
and to accept any trials and tribulations that may come [their] way. Help
[them] to be inspired by your Epistles and to partake of your indomitable love
for Jesus, so that after [they] have finished [their] course [they] may join
you in praising him in heaven for all eternity.
Amen.
89.
Prayer to Saint Paul the Apostle [applied to priests]
Great
convert and Apostle of the Gentiles, you became Christlike and knew only Christ
Crucified. Though extremely learned, you relied completely on the Wisdom
received from the Spirit and taught from the abundance of your heart. Instruct
modern [priests and] evangelists -- those who preach Christ to others. Let them
realize that their actions speak louder than any words they may use. Teach them
to use their talents in conveying their God-given message but to rely above all
on the promptings of the Spirit. Amen.
90. Prayer in Praise of God's Greatness [applied to Priests]
1. Almighty, true and imcomparable God,
you are present in all things,
yet in no way limited by them.
You remain unaffected by place,
untouched by time,
unperturbed by years,
and undeceived by words.
You are not subject to birth
and in no need of protection.
You are beyond all corruption.,
above all change,
immutable by nature.
You live in unapproachable light
and are invisible,
yet you are known to all those who seek you with hope and love.
You are the God of Israel,
and of all who hope in Christ.
2. You we praise and glorify,
adore and magnify,
for you deserve all glory, all power, all blessing.
By the Holy Spirit you have revealed yourself
through the prophets and especially through your beloved Son Jesus
Christ.
He in turn has passed on his ministry to the
So, dearly beloved God and Father,
We sollicit your grace for them
for the sake of all men of good will.
Make their pastoral work fruitful.
May the world recognize your greatness
because of their commitment, their prayer, their preaching.
We thank you, Father and Pantocrator,
through the same Jesus Christ, our risen Lord
and in the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Amen.
First section by unknown author;
second section added by Francis de Ruijte, 23 January 2004.
1 All-powerful, most holy,
most high and supreme God,
Holy and just Father,
Lord King of heaven and earth,
we thank You for Yourself.
for through Your holy will
and through Your only Son
with the Holy Spirit
You have created everything spiritual and corporeal
and, after making us in Your own image and likeness,
You placed us in paradise.
2 Through our own fault we fell.
3 We thank You
for as through Your own Son You created us,
so through Your holy love
with which You loved us,
You broguht about His birth
as true God and true man
by the glorious, ever-virgin, most blessed, holy Mary;
and You willed to redeem us captives
through His cross and blood and death.
4 We thank You
for Your Son Himself will come again
in the glory of His majesty
to send into the eternal fire
the wicked ones
who have not done penance
and have not known You
and to say to all those
who have known You, adored You and served You in penance:
"Come, you blessed of my Father,
receive the kingdom prepared for you
from the beginning of the world."
5 Because all of us, wretches and sinners,
are not worthy to pronounce Your name,
we humbly ask
our Lord Jesus Christ,
Your beloved Son,
in Whom You are well pleased,
together with the Holy Spirit,
the Paraclete,
to give You thanks,
for everything
as it pleases You and Him,
Who always satisfies You in everything,
through Whom You have done so much for us.
Alleluia!
[We also thank You, most holy Father,
for all priests
who believe and teach
what Saint Francis of
expresses in this prayer,
he who had such great respect for these ordained men.
May they, because of Your grace,
always remain faithful to all the teachings
of holy
for the spiritual benefit of Your holy People,
for the sake of Your glory.
Amen. Alleluia.]
Francis of Assisi,
RegNB 23,1-5; addition by Francis de Ruijte, 2004 January 24.
92. Prayer for
Consecrated People
God, Father and
Source of all that is good, in every age and place. You call forth women and
men to consecrate their lives to You. Cognizant of the privilege of this call
and its accompanying graces, we praise and thank You for the consecrated lives
of priests, sisters and brothers throughout the world and in particular those
living and serving within our own diocese. Your call to holiness extends to
every man, woman and child. May the goodness and holiness of those for whom we
pray serve as beacons lighting the path for all who seek a closer walk with
You. We ask this of You, through Jesus, Your Son, and in the power of the Holy
Spirit, One God dwelling in everlasting glory. Amen.
93. Prayer for
Vocations.
O loving God, inspire your people to promote and to answer the call to Religious Life. Remove fears and doubs from their hearts. Give them the Spirit's gifts of wisdom and courage. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
94. Prayer for our
Priests.
Lord Jesus Christ,
You love Your church and those called to share Your priesthood! With our love
and prayers, we join You in asking our Heavenly Father to continue to pour out
His gifts of holiness, compassion and ardent zeal on your priests everywhere.
Inspire each of them to offer his life as an "Ambassador of Christ",
bringing reconciliation and healing to the world.
Mary, Mother of all
Priests, inspire us to live in peace and joy and pray this prayer with us.
Amen.
95. Prayer to Our
Lady of Lourdes (adopted to priests) -- Feast day: February 11
Mary, you showed yourself to Bernadette
in the crevice of the rock.
In the cold and grey of winter,
you brought the warmth, light and beauty
of your presence.
In the often obscure depths of our lives,
in the depth of the world where evil is so powerful,
bring hope,
return our confidence!
You are the Immaculate Conception,
come to our aid, sinners that we are.
[And send us good priests to help us to improve our lives.]
Give us the humility to have a change of heart,
the courage to do penance.
Teach us to pray for all people.
[And may our priests lead us in these efforts.]
Guide us to the source of true life.
Make us pilgrims going forward with your Church,
whet our appetite for the Eucharist,
the bread for the journey, the bread of life,
[which our priests preside for us].
The Spirit brought about wonders in you, O Mary:
by his power, he has placed you near the Father,
in the glory of your eternal Son.
Look with kindness
on our miserable bodies and hearts.
Shine forth for us, like a gentle light,
at the hour of our death.
[May a good priest then be present at our side.]
Together with Bernadette, we pray to you, O Mary,
as your poor children.
May we enter, like her, into the spirit of the Beatitudes.
[Inspire our priests to make us understand them better.]
Then, we will be able, here below,
begin to know the joy of the
and sing together with you:
Magnificatn !
Glory to you, Virgin Mary,
blessed servant of the Lord,
Mother of God,
[Mother of the Church, and Mother of Priests,]
dwelling place of the Holy Spirit!
Amen.
Additions inserted by
Francis de Ruijte, 2004 February 11.
96. Prayer for
Priests
Lord, we love you,
fill the hearts of
our priests with your light,
touch them with your
mercy.
Help them to be
beacons of your light
in the days ahead.
As we do penance and
reflect on your holy mysteries,
and recollet,
may we ever grow
closer and nearer to you through the help of your priests,
reflecting the truth
of your light more clearly,
glad always to be
your witnesses.
O Blessed Mother,
pray for our priests
and pray for us,
keep them and us
always under your mantle,
and may we all learn
from you
how to always say yes
when God calls,
today,
tomorrow,
throughout our whole
life.
Amen.
To the Intention of Priests
The Joyful Mysteries
1st Joyful
Mystery: The Annunciation
Rejoice,
Mary, beloved of God, You who, by your “FIAT”, accepted to be the Saviour’s
Mother. Send out an invitation to the youth of today who hesitate to answer the
Lord’s call to the priesthood and religious life. May young people freely
accept to be instruments in the service of faith.
O Mary, be the star
that guides them along the way.
