Help Our Future Priests

Mark

Mark Miles, a Scotsman and convert to the faith, will be visiting the International Seminary of St. Peter, a seminary of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, in September with an eye towards applying in 2009. He has some books up for sale in order to help pay his way once he is accepted.

Take a look and buy a book.

Neven

Neven Pesa, a Melkite Catholic who will be entering the Byzantine Catholic Order of Basilian Salvatorian Fathers in Massachussets in September 2008 is selling a CD of his own music in order to help pay off his college debts before he enters the seminary. You can listen to samples here.

Buy a CD.

Prayer For Priests

Keep them; I pray Thee, dearest Lord.
Keep them, for they are Thine
The priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine.

Keep them, for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart.
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure -
Shelter them in Thy heart.

Keep them and comfort them in hours
Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.

Keep them and remember, Lord,
they have no one but Thee.
Yet, they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.

Keep them as spotless as the Host,
That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

John Joseph Cardinal Carberry (+1998 )
Archbishop of St. Louis (1968-1979)
Bishop of Columbus (1965-1968 )
Bishop of Lafayette-in-Indiana (1957-1965)

More Prayers for Priests
Prayer for Priests (Byzantine Book of Prayer)
Novena Prayer for Priests

Prayer For Priests

With today being the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God I think it is a good time to begin this particular Novena:

 

NOVENA PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

O Mary, Mother of Jesus

you were with Jesus

at the beginning of His life and mission.

You stood beside Jesus when He was lifted

on the cross and gave His life for all.

We ask you now to be with our priests,

who give themselves in service to God’s people.

Intercede for them that they may grow in holiness;

proclaim God’s word with courage;

celebrate the sacraments with joy;

and be among God’s people as Jesus,

the Good shepherd, was.

We offer this prayer to God, the Father,

through your intercession,

in the name of your Son, Jesus,

and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

 

Taken from the Dec. 16, 2007 Bulletin of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Penance Service

This afternoon I went to confession at an Advent Penance Service at Christ the King Catholic Church in east Columbus. Fr. Steve Seever, a former Baptist and former Mormon, is the pastor there.

There were 15 priests there. I estimated somewhere between 150 and 200 people. But, that was maybe 10 minutes before the Penance Service actually started. And it seemed like people were continually coming in.

There was a reading from the Gospel (Luke 18:10-15), an examination of conscience, and then individual confessions. I waited until it seemed a majority of people had already confessed before I got in line. I was the last person in line to confess to a particular priest, a Monsignor. After I was through I went to a nearby pew to pray for a few minutes.

When I got up to leave I noticed something that I think had a more profound impact on me than my own confession and absolution. The Monsignor was absolving another priest who had obviously just confessed to him. And behind the 2 of them I could see 2 more priests across the Church – one confessing to the other.

All I could do was stare. At that moment I had more of a sense of the mercy of Almighty God than I did when I was forgiven of my own sins. It was a couple of minutes before I was actually able to move again. I’ve never experienced anything quite like it.

I think that with yesterday’s Benediction, Mass this morning, and the Penance Service this afternoon that I have more than “put in my hour” this weekend. I was planning on attending Vespers this evening at yet a 4th parish. But, I am feeling exhausted. I think I will call it an early night instead.

Prayer For Priests

O Lord Jesus Christ, Shepherd of all the faithful: I humbly pray You to look upon your vicar on earth, our Holy Father Pope Benedict. Bless his work and fulfill his good desires for the welfare of the holy Church. Give him strength and health that in peace he may govern the fold entrusted to his care and lead it to the heavenly kingdom. Amen.

O Lord, remember our bishops, especially Bishop (Local Ordinary), and bestow upon them the blessing of body and soul, that, by their word and example, they may point out the way that leads to You. Amen.

O Lord, bless and protect your representatives on earth, our priests, especially (Names), who labor in your vineyard for the salvation of souls redeemed by your most precious Blood. Give them prudence, perseverance, humility, and patience. Enkindle in their hearts the burning ardor which consumed the Apostles. May their lives be as holy as the truth they preach. Make them priests according to your own heart. Let their light so shine before others that they, seeing their good work, may glorify the heavenly Father. Amen.

O lord, enkindle the fire of holy zeal in the heart of all priests, that they may ever and in all things seek only your glory and incite us to an ever-increasing love for You. Give them strength, that they may always labor for your glory and for the salvation of our souls. Amen.

-Byzantine Book of Prayer