Prayer for Priests by St. Therese of Lisieux

O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep Your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
Where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Your Sacred Body,
Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with Your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.
Let your Holy Love surround them and shield them from the world’s contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit,
and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation
here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown.
Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your followers: Whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do it. Trusting in the promise, we pray for the needs of the Church.

Mother of the Word Incarnate, help us to become more aware of the need for vocations in our time… O Mary, intercede for us.

Mother of the Church, may many workers be added to the service of your Son’s Church… O Mary, intercede for us.

Lady of Mercy, enlighten our minds so we may respond to our responsibility as parents to foster vocations in our own homes… O Mary, intercede for us.

Hail Mary, help our children to bind themselves closer to God, through a vocation in the Church… O Mary, intercede for us.

Queen of Angels, give our Church true disciples who will serve in the priesthood of Christ your Son… O Mary, intercede for us.

Loving Mother of the Redeemer, grant to more men and women the grace to respond generously to making your Son known by lives of consecrated service… O Mary, intercede for us.

Our Lady Queen of Heaven, inspire faithful men in the Church to serve their brothers and sisters in the permanent diaconate… O Mary, intercede for us.

Queen of the Rosary, remind us to pray for our priests, religious, and those studying for a life of service, that they will remain dedicated to their call… O Mary, intercede for us.

Holy Family, help the families in our Diocese to discuss vocations in a positive, encouraging manner… O Mary, intercede for us.

Our Lady of Good Counsel, we ask for contentment among priests and seminarians as they seek to carry on the work of the Church… O Mary, intercede for us.

Immaculate Mary, help all of Christ’s faithful to be living signs that they may inspire young people to become priests or deacons, sisters or brothers… O Mary, intercede for us.

Queen of martyrs, strengthen those engaged in the special vocation of serving in foreign missions…
O Mary, intercede for us.

Mother of God, may we recognize our own vocation and be open to God’s will for our lives… O Mary, intercede for us.

Our Lady of Mercy, inspire all Christ’s faithful to respond to the needs of the poor and the ill, the imprisoned and the elderly… O Mary, intercede for us.

Mother of our Savior, inspire more young men and women from our Diocese to follow your example of trust in God’ word… O Mary, intercede for us.

Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, grant an increase in the ordained and consecrated life so they may bring the truths of our Catholic faith to the world that all may know and love your Son… O Mary, intercede for us.

Let us pray…
“Mary, humble servant of God Most High, the Son to whom you gave birth, has made you the servant of humanity. You were servant of the Church on the day of Pentecost and with your intercession you continue to generate her in every believer, even in these our difficult and troubled times. Let the young people of the third millennium look to you, young daughter of Israel, who have known the agitation of a young heart when faced with the plan of the Eternal God. Make them able to accept the invitation of your Son to give their lives wholly for the glory of God. (Pope John Paul II)

Lord, have mercy – Lord, have mercy

Christ, have mercy – Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy – Lord, have mercy
Christ hear us – Christ hear us
Christ, graciously hear us – Christ, graciously hear us

God the Father of heaven, *Have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, One God,

• Jesus, Priest and Victim, *Have mercy on us
• Jesus, Priest forever according to the Order of Melchizedek, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, Priest Whom God sent to preach the Gospel to the poor, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, Priest Who at the Last Supper institute the form of the eternal sacrifice, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, Priest Who lives forever to intercede for us, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest chosen from among men, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, made High Priest for men, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest of our confession of faith, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest of greater glory than Moses, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest of the true tabernacle, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest of the good things to come, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest, holy, innocent and undefiled, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest faithful and merciful, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest inflamed with zeal for God and souls, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest, perfect forever, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest, Who by Your own Blood entered the heavens, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest, who opened us a new way for us, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest, who loved us and washed us from our sins in Your Blood, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, High Priest, who offered Yourself to God as an oblation and sacrificial Victim, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, sacrificial Victim of God and men, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, holy and immaculate sacrificial Victim, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, pleasing sacrificial Victim, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, peace-making sacrificial Victim, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, sacrifice of propitiation and praise, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, sacrificial Victim of reconciliation and peace, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, sacrificial Victim in whom we have confidence and access to God, Have mercy on us
• Jesus, sacrificial Victim living forever and ever, Have mercy on us

Be merciful, spare us, Jesus.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, Jesus.

• From rashly entering the clergy, * deliver us, Jesus
• From the sin of sacrilege,
• From the spirit of incontinence,
• From sordid pursuits,
• From every lapse into simony,
• From the unworthy administration of the Church’s treasures,
• From the love of the world and its vanities,
• From the unworthy celebration of Your Mysteries,
• Through Your eternal priesthood,
• Through the holy anointing whereby You were constituted a priest by God the Father,
• Through Your priestly spirit,
• Through that ministry whereby You glorified Your Father on earth,
• Through the bloody immolation of Yourself made once and for all upon the Cross,
• Through that same sacrifice daily renewed upon the altar,
• Through that divine power which You exercise invisibly in Your priests,
• That You would deign to maintain the whole priestly order in holy religion, * We beseech You, hear us
• That You would deign to provide Your people with pastors after Your own heart,
• That You would deign to fill them with the spirit of Your priesthood,
• That the lips of Your priests might preserve true knowledge,
• That You would deign to send faithful workers into Your harvest,
• That You would deign to multiply the faithful dispensers of Your Mysteries,
• That You would deign to grant them perseverance in the service of Your will,
• That You would deign to give them gentleness in their ministry, resourcefulness in their actions, and constancy in prayer,
• That through them You would deign to promote the veneration of the Blessed Sacrament everywhere,
• That You would deign to receive into Your joy those who have served You well,
• Lamb of God, Who take away the sin of the world, spare us, O Lord
• Lamb of God, Who take away the sin of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord
• Lamb of God, Who take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord
• Jesus, Our Priest, hear us
• Jesus, Our Priest, graciously hear us

Let us pray:

O God, Sanctifier and Guardian of your Church, raise up in her through Your Spirit suitable and faithful dispensers of the holy Mysteries, so that by their ministry and example, the Christian people may be guided under Your protection in the path of salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, who, while the disciples were worshiping and fasting, ordered Saul and Barnabas to be set apart for the work to which You had called them, be present now to Your Church in prayer, and You, who know the hearts of all, indicate those whom You have chosen for ministry. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(This prayer was prayed in Latin by Pope John Paul II as a seminarian in Cracow, and often in later life as well.)

The Holy Father – fill him with your grace, Lord.

Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops – give them your gifts, Lord.
Diocesan priests – never leave them, Lord.
Priests in seminary work – give them your wisdom, Lord.
Priests in hospital work – give them constancy, Lord.
Priests who are ill – heal them, Lord.
Priests in danger – deliver them, Lord.
Priests who are weak – strengthen them, Lord.
Priests who are poor – relive them, Lord.
Preists who are zealous – help them, Lord.
Priests who want to love you – enkindle their hearts, Lord.
Priests who are sad – console them, Lord.
Priests who are worried – give them peace, Lord.
Priests who are old – sustain them, Lord.
Priests who are young – impel them for your glory, Lord.
Priests who are alone – accompany them, Lord.
Missionary priests – protect them, Lord.
Priests who are preachers – enlighten them, Lord.
Priests who direct souls – instruct them, Lord.
Parish priests – give them prudence, Lord.
Religious priests – make them perfect, Lord.
Priests and religious who have died – bring them to glory, Lord.
On all the Church, militant and suffering – Lord, have mercy.

For all priests:

• Give them your wisdom, Lord.
• Give them virtues.
• Give them patience and charity.
• Give them obedience and kindness.
• Give them a burning zeal for souls.
• Give them an intense love for the Eucharist.
• Give them loyalty to the Holy See and to their Bishops.
• Give them respect for their dignity.
• Give them a great love for Mary.
• Give them the gift of counsel.
• Give them strength in their labors
• Give them peace in their sufferings.
• Give them humility and generosity.
• Let them be the light of souls.
• Let them be the salt of the earth.
• Let them practice sacrifice and self-denial.
• Let them enkindle hearts with the love of Mary.
• Let them be other Christ’s.
• Let them be holy in body and soul.
• May they be men of prayer.
• May faith shine forth in them.
• May they be concerned only for the salvation of souls.
• May they be faithful to their priestly vocation.
• May their hands know only how to bless.
• May they burn with love for you and for Mary.
• May all their steps be for the glory of God.
• May the Holy Spirit possess them, and give them his gifts and fruits in abundance.

Let us pray.
O God, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, you are the soul and the life of the Church. Hear the prayers we offer for priests. We ask this through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, their protector and guide.
AMEN

Lord Jesus, once You called the first disciples in order to make them fishers of men. Continue to let resound today Your sweet invitation: “Come and Follow Me.”

Grant to young men and women the grace of responding promptly to Your voice. Sustain our bishops, priests, and consecrated souls in their apostolic work. Give perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are fulfilling the ideal of a life of total consecration to Your service.

Enkindle in our communities a missionary zeal. Send, Lord, workers into Your fields and do not let mankind be lost because of a lack of pastors, missionaries, and people dedicated to the cause of the Gospel.

Mary, Mother of the Church, Model of Vocations, help us say “Yes” to the Lord Who calls us to collaborate in the divine design of salvation. Amen. – Pope John Paul II
Amen.

Lord Jesus, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, and living perpetually among us through Your Priests, grant that the words of Your Priests may be only Your words, that their gestures be only Your gestures, and that their lives be a true reflection of Your life. Grant that they may be men who speak to God on behalf of His people, and speak to His people of God. Grant that they be courageous in service, serving the Church as she asks to be served. Grant that they may be men who witness to eternity in our time, traveling on the paths of history in Your steps, and doing good for all. Grant that they may be faithful to their commitments, zealous in their vocation and mission, clear mirrors of their own identity, and living the joy of the gift they have received. We pray that Your Holy Mother, Mary, present throughout Your life, may be ever present in the life of Your Priests. Amen