St. Thérèse of Lisieux's Prayer for Priests

Lord Jesus, You have chosen Your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim Your Word and to act in Your name. For so great a gift to Your Church, we give You praise and thanksgiving. We ask You to fill them with the fire of Your love, that their ministry may reveal Your presence in the Church.

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Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that Your power shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of Your dying and rising. In times of weakness send them Your Spirit, and help them to praise Your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners.

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By the same Holy Spirit, put Your words on their lips and Your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted. And may the gift of Mary Your mother, to the disciple whom You love, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed You in her human image may, by her intercession, help to form them in Your divine image by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. AMEN.

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O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep Your priests within the shelter of Your Most Sacred Heart, where none can touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands which daily touch Your sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips daily tinged with Your precious Blood. Keep pure and unworldly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let Your holy love surround and protect them from the world’s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here, and their everlasting crown in eternity. AMEN.