Praying for Our Priests

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For the full texts of all the prayers please visit the Holy Rosary main page

THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES

The Baptism of Jesus

The Son of God, in profound humility, approaches John the Baptist and descends
into the waters of the Jordan to be baptized by him. The Beloved Son sanctifies
for all time the waters of baptism “while the Spirit descends on Him to invest
Him with the mission which He is to carry out.” 5

We pray that all priests, like Jesus, will humbly and lovingly accept the mission
of their vocation to serve and suffer for the people of God.
We pray that every priest might be a voice in the spiritual wilderness of today’s
society, calling souls to repentance and inviting them to meet and recognize
Jesus as John the Baptist did – ”Behold, the Lamb of God, Who takes away
the sin of the world.” 6

The Wedding Feast at Cana

Mary, with simplicity and genuine concern, says to Her Son, “They have no
wine.”7 And with faith in Her Divine Son, She turns to the servants at the
wedding and says, “… do whatever He tells you.”8 Jesus responds with the first of
His public miracles – changing water into wine.

We pray that all priests, with loving simplicity, will follow Mary’s counsel to
“… do whatever He tells you.” They, too, will see miracles.
We pray for all priests as they teach and prepare couples for the
Sacrament of Marriage.
We pray that every priest will cherish his own spousal relationship with
Holy Mother Church and live it out with sensitivity, chastity and love.

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God and Call to Discipleship

Jesus came to reconcile mankind to the Father, ushering in this ministry of
reconciliation with the first words of His public ministry, “… the Kingdom
of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

We pray that all priests will be gentle and compassionate ministers
of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

We pray that all priests throughout their lives of ministry will pray and study
the Gospels with fervor, and that as they break open the Gospel message for the
faithful each day, they will preach it with truth and boldness and live it with love.

The Transfiguration

Jesus takes Peter, James and John up the mountain where, in the presence
of Moses and Elijah, He reveals to them His glory, thus strengthening their
faith for the road to Calvary which lies ahead.

We pray that all priests can and will immerse themselves in prayer daily and
experience in this the love and peace of God that strengthens them for their
daily trials.

We pray that as each priest prays and listens to the voice of the Beloved Son,
he will be transfigured into a more perfect image of the Love of Christ, his eyes
ever on Jesus and the glory that follows a life lived in fidelity to Him.

The Institution of the Holy Eucharist

Jesus institutes the Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood at the Last Supper.
These two – the Eucharist and the priesthood – can NEVER be separated.
The priest must find his happiness – his joy – in his oneness with Christ.
This oneness realizes its fullest expression at the moment of Consecration at
every Mass when the priest, in persona Christi, offers himself as both priest
and victim for the salvation of souls.

We pray that every priest will believe in the True Presence of Jesus in the Holy
Eucharist and will faithfully and reverently celebrate Mass each day, adoring
the Lord Whom he holds in his hands and witnessing his love for Christ in the
Most Blessed Sacrament.

We pray for priests preparing souls of all ages for their First Communion and
for those priests preparing seminarians for the Sacrament of Holy Orders.9