“Year of the Priest”
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, has proclaimed the “Year of the Priest.” In recognizing the importance of the priesthood, the Holy Father has asked each of us to encourage the development of the priestly vocation. There are many ways we can help including praying for an increase in all religious vocations, offering time and financial means to strengthen youth ministries in our parish, teaching our children to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and supporting and encouraging seminarians in the Archdiocese of Chicago. If you know someone who has the qualities of a good priest, tell him! Your loving encouragement may be exactly what he needs to help him consider the priesthood as his calling on this earth.
As we reflect on Pope Benedict’s commemoration of this essential vocation, let us do our part by also praying for the men who currently serve as priests, are in training as seminarians, or are still discerning life as a religious. Remember, it is through prayer that we can gain graces we may not otherwise experience. Thus, it is essential for all of us to pray for the priests from whom we received Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and by whom we have been absolved of our sins through Confession.
A Prayer for Priests:
Gracious and loving God, we thank You for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience Your presence in the Sacraments.
Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for Your people.
Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Inspire them with the vision of Your kingdom.
Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their Ministry.
Help them to become instruments of Your divine grace.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our eternal priest.
Amen.