Prayer for Priests

Prayers for priests are petitions offered by the faithful for the spiritual well-being, strength, and holiness of those ordained to the priesthood. These prayers often seek divine guidance, protection, and grace for priests in their ministry, recognizing their vital role in the Church and the spiritual challenges they face.

Many prayers for priests exist, often attributed to saints or prominent Church figures, and they generally focus on themes of holiness, perseverance, protection from temptation, and fruitful ministry. One widely recognized prayer is attributed to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, which asks Jesus, the eternal Priest, to keep priests within His Sacred Heart, protect their hands and lips that touch the Eucharist, and shield them from worldly contagion. Another significant prayer comes from St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, who prayed for many more priests after God's own heart, who would be worthy representatives of Christ, devoted to prayer and penance, and zealous dispensers of grace.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provides a prayer that thanks God for the gift of priests and asks for their strength in vocation, wisdom, understanding, and the ability to spread the Gospel and experience joy in their ministry. Pope Benedict XVI's prayer for priests emphasizes their conformity to Christ, the Divine Master, and their role as shepherds with pure hearts and clear consciences. St. Teresa of Kolkata's prayer invokes Mary, Mother of Jesus, to cover priests with her mantle of purity, protect them, and keep their hearts pure and minds filled with Jesus. St. Faustina's prayer asks Jesus to grant the Church love and light through priests' words, bringing hardened hearts to repentance, and to protect priests from the devil's snares.

Organizations like the Foundation of Prayer for Priests (www.foundationforpriests.org) are dedicated to forming a global family of intercessors for the holiness and fruitfulness of the ministerial priesthood. They encourage various forms of prayer, sacrifice, service, and study, including Eucharistic holy hours, praying the Rosary, and "Adopt-A-Priest" programs. The importance of praying for priests is underscored by the belief that they are prime targets for spiritual attacks due to their sacred role in bringing Christ to the world through sacraments like the Mass and confession.

PRAYER :" Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep these servants of yours within the shelter of your Heart, where none may harm them. Keep unstained their anointed hands, which touch your sacred body. Keep unsullied lips purpled with your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly sealed with the sublime marks of your glorious 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 here below their joy and consolation, and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen. "