Jesus, Good Shepherd, You sent us the Holy Spirit to guide Your Church and lead her faithful to You through the ministry of Your priests.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, grant to Your priests wisdom in leading, faithfulness in teaching, and holiness in guarding Your sacred Mysteries.
As they cry out with all the faithful, "Abba, Father!" may Your priests be ever more closely identified with You in Your divine Sonship and offer their own lives with You, the one saving Victim.
Make them helpful brothers of one another, and understanding fathers of all Your people.
On each Pentecost Sunday, renew in Your priests deeper faith, greater trust in You, childlike reliance on our Mother Mary, and unwavering fidelity to the Holy Father and his bishops.
Holy Mary, intercede for your priests.
St. Joseph, protect them.
St. Michael, defend them.
St. John Vianney, pray for them.
With Ecclesiastical Approval Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C. Bishop of Peoria
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit AMEN
Dear Jesus, how can we ever properly thank you for our priests? They have given up everything for us, forsaking the world to nourish our souls with the Eucharist and to heal our wounds through Confession.
Send forth your Holy Spirit, RIGHT NOW, in a flood--nay--a supernatural TORRENT of grace, in swift and sure answer to this plea, bringing consolations and courage and purity and joy to our beloved priests. As only You can do, whisper into their hearts that we love them so! As only You can do, enwrap each man wearing a cassock and collar in the loving maternal arms of your Mother, who wept with You and stayed with You during your hours of suffering during Your crucifixion.
We ask this in Your Holy Name, the name above all names: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Amen."
First Joyful Mystery
THE ANNUNCIATION
The Angel Gabriel announces to Mary, a virgin, that she will become the mother of God, Word Made Flesh. For all centuries to come, Jesus will become flesh in the Holy Eucharist to nourish us in a most intimate union with Him.
We pray for all priests who daily through the words of the consecration at Mass, and through Holy Communion, bring us the Body and Blood of Christ. We pray for all future priests now being formed in the wombs of their mothers that they may be safe from physical harm, and come to Ordination as God intends. We pray for all future generations of priests. We pray also that priests may treasure the gift of celibacy.
Second Joyful Mystery
THE VISITATION
Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, who recognizes Mary as the living tabernacle for their Divine Lord.
We pray especially for priests who bring Holy Communion to the sick, the shut-ins, and Viaticum to the dying. We pray for all the priests who minister to the sick in other ways, counsel, comfort and console them.
Third Joyful Mystery
THE NATIVITY OF JESUS
Jesus is born in Bethlehem. The angels announce His birth; kings and shepherds come to adore Him.
We pray that all seminarians grow in knowledge and love of God to become holy priests. We pray especially for those who will be ordained soon, that they remain faithful all their lives to the sublime privilege of being "other Christs" among us. We pray that everyone will come to value the Eucharistic Feast and the Priesthood among God's greatest gifts to us. We pray that every priest will consider himself a member of the Holy Family, a true son of Mary and Joseph, and a brother-priest of Jesus, the great High Pries
Fifth Joyful Mystery
FINDING JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
Jesus is found among the teachers in the temple; He returns home and is obedient to Mary and Joseph.
We pray that priests will always be found going about their Father's business, and will be obedient to the teaching of the magisterium of the Church, our Holy Father and the bishops in communion with him. We pray for all young priests that the love and dedication they experience in the first years of their priesthood may increase in the future. We pray for all priests who teach the Faith to children and adult
THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
Fourth Joyful Mystery
PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE
Mary and Joseph, in obedience to the Law, bring Jesus to the temple to be dedicated to God. Simeon expresses his gratitude to God for revealing the Messiah to him before he dies.
We thank God for all priests who, like Simeon, have given us decades of faithful service. We pray that they may be rewarded for their generosity and self-sacrifice. We pray also for all priests whose hearts are pierced by loneliness, depression and rejection.
THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
by Court Our Lady of Guadalupe, 2250, CDA
First Luminous Mystery
THE BAPTISM OF JESUS
Jesus descended into the waters to be baptized by John. He took up the challenge of His Father. He knew He would suffer on behalf of us and His suffering would lead to the forgiveness of sins. He knew He was king but His Throne was to be a cross.
We pray that our priests will imitate Our Lord’s humility as they do their priestly duties by accepting their challenges from God.
Second Luminous Mystery
THE WEDDING AT CANA
Third Luminous Mystery
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE Kingdom
Christ came to bring mercy and forgiveness to mankind.
Oh God, bless our priests as they teach Jesus’ message—baptizing, forgiving sins, and consecrating the Blessed Eucharist through the Holy Spirit. May they have a constant renewal of Life, aimed at an ever more perfect union with Christ—the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Fourth Luminous Mystery
THE TRANSFIGURATION
Jesus leads them up the mountain where he is transfigured before them. Peter wishes that three tents be built for Jesus and His two companions in order that all might come to see them.
Oh Lord, grant priests hearts that are open to the transforming power of Your grace at every celebration of Mass. May your Real Presence in the Eucharist and through the proclamation of your Word, inspire them to lives of faithful service.
Fifth Luminous Mystery
THE HOLY EUCHARIST
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (John 6:51)
‘There can be no Eucharist without the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist’ Pope John Paul II's, Message to Priests for Holy Thursday 2004).
Christ said, "I will be with you all days, even to the end of the world," He is there in every tabernacle of the Catholic world. Oh, Lord, strengthen the faith of all priests so they may always believe that it is truly You, Jesus, in the Holy Eucharist.
Oh Lord, help our priests to celebrate Mass prayerfully that their hearts may be drawn ever closer to you and may their time, spent in Adoration, renew and uplift their spirits.
Lord, help our priests, to know how to guide us in reaching out to others. May we all imitate Christ in service, for we are the Body of Christ.
THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
First Sorrowful Mystery
The Agony in the Garden
The apostles fall asleep; Jesus sweats blood at the thought of His coming passion and death; angels come to comfort Him.
We pray that all priests may live only to do our Father's will, as Jesus always did.
Second Sorrowful Mystery
JESUS IS SCOURGED
Jesus is cruelly scourged and beaten by the soldiers.
We pray for priests who are persecuted, physically or mentally abused; those who are imprisoned or prevented from offering the Holy sacrifice of the Mass or receiving communion.
Third Sorrowful Mystery
JESUS IS CROWNED WITH THORNS
Jesus is mocked as king and precious Head is cruelly pierced by thorns.
We pray for priests who suffer for defending authentic Catholic doctrine. We pray that all Bishops will uphold the true teachings of the Catholic Church and resist temptations to compromise doctrine in the face of cultural and social pressures.
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS
Bruised, bleeding and exhausted Jesus is forced to drag himself and His cross up the hill of Calvary.
We pray for all priests with heavy crosses; those who are weak, lonely, or have fallen from God's grace in some way.
We pray for the Holy Father, who perhaps has the heaviest of crosses; the widespread persecution and abandonment of the Church from within and without
Fifth Sorrowful Mystery
JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
Jesus sheds his last drops of Precious Blood to redeem us from sin and death.
We pray for all priests who are in their last agony and those who will die today. We pray for those who thirst for the salvation of souls. We pray that the crucifixion of their wills may accomplish God's designs for the salvation of the whole world.
We pray that priests may take Mary into their hearts, as St. John the Apostle, one of the first priests, took Mary into his home.
Jesus arises from the dead and appears to the Apostles.
We pray that priests will remember the Crucifixion is followed by the Resurrection: darkness is always followed by Light. We pray that all priests may share the joy of the Risen Christ.
The Second Glorious Mystery
THE ASCENSION
Jesus instructs His apostles and returns to His Father in Heaven.
We pray that priests may carry out Jesus' instructions to evangelize the whole world, instructing and baptizing countless souls. We pray for missionaries who live lives of utter poverty and deprivation to bring the Gospel to all people.
The Third Glorious Mystery
DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit comes upon the Apostles, who are gathered with Mary.
We pray that priests may be open to the graces of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them for the task of bringing souls to God and God to souls. We pray that they may be on fire to convert the most hardened sinners and bring God's love to the whole world.
The Fourth Glorious Mystery
THE ASSUMPTION
Mary is taken, body and soul, to Heaven. While she was on earth, she loved and prayed for the Apostles, the first priests.
We pray that priests will be devoted to Mary and find in her the love and comfort of a mother, the most powerful intercession of our greatest saint, and the surest refuge against Satan and his cohorts who seek destruction of priests and the priesthood.
The Fifth Glorious Mystery
THE CORONATION
Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and earth; she is rewarded for her faithfulness to God.
We pray that Mary, Queen of the Clergy, will be their model of faith and joy, and constant guide until they reach Heaven where a crown, jeweled with many souls entrusted to them on the day of Ordination, will be their reward for faithful and loving service.
LITANY FOR PRIESTS
Let us pray for:
The Holy Father, fill him with courage and grace, Lord.
Cardinals, archbishops, and bishops, give them a shepherd's heart, Lord.
Diocesan priests, fill them with your Spirit, Lord.
Priests in religious orders, perfect them in their call, Lord.
Priests who are ill, heal them, Lord.
Priests who are in danger, deliver them, Lord.
Priests who are weak, strengthen them, Lord.
Priests who are poor, relieve them, Lord.
Priests who have lost their zeal, renew them, 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 alone, accompany them, Lord.
Missionary priests, protect them, Lord.
Priests who are preachers, enlighten them, Lord.
Priests who direct souls, instruct them, Lord.
Priests and religious who have died, bring them to glory, Lord.
For all priests, give them Your wisdom and knowledge.
For all priests, give them Your understanding and counsel.
For all priests, give them reverence and awe of You.
For all priests, give them patience and love.
For all priests, give them obedience and kindness.
For all priests, give them a burning zeal for souls.
For all priests, give them virtues of faith, hope and love.
For all priests, give them an intense love for the Eucharist.
For all priests, give them loyalty to the Holy Father and their Bishops in
communion with him.
For all priests, give them respect for life and human dignity.
For all priests, give them integrity and justice.
For all priests, give them humility and generosity.
For all priests, give them strength in their labors.
For all priests, give them peace in their sufferings.
For all priests, give them great love for the Trinity.
For all priests, give them great love for Mary.
For all priests, let them be the light of Christ.
For all priests, let them be the salt of the earth.
For all priests, let them practice sacrifice and self-denial.
For all priests, let them be holy in body, mind and spirit.
For all priests, let them be men of prayer.
For all priests, may faith shine forth in them.
For all priests, may they be concerned for our salvation.
For all priests, may they be faithful to their priestly vocation.
For all priests, may their hands bless and heal.
For all priests, may they burn with love for you.
For all priests, may all their steps be for the glory of God.
For all priests, may the Holy Spirit fill them, and give them His gifts in abundance.
Let us pray.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, hear the prayers we offer for our priests.
Let them know clearly the work that You are calling them to do.
Grant them every grace to answer Your call with courage, love, and lasting dedication to Your will.
We ask Mary's intercession as their loving mother. Amen.
FOR THE POPE: Lord, cover with Your protection, our Holy Father, the Pope:
Be his light, his strength, his consolation. (The Vatican II Weekday Missal)
Jesus’ first miracle was made possible by the firm love and faith of Mary in her Divine Son.
Oh Lord, help our priests to develop an ever-increasing love for Mary. Help new priests to recognize that they may find their strength in Mary as they “Do whatever He tells…” them. Mary is our teacher and always leads us to her Son.
