Holy Mary, Mother of Priests, Protect, Guide and Intercede for Them!

"...After conquering the power of the devil once-for-all on Calvary, Jesus Christ eternally offers that one sacrifice to the Father for the salvation of souls, and the men who are chosen to serve in the priestly class in His Church have the duty to perpetuate that one sacrifice in time by celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Of the many things that priests have to do, it is the most important!

"Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus' human nature, but She is the Mother of His Priesthood too because She gave Him birth, nurtured Him, educated Him in the ways of the Chosen People and faithfully stood by Him at the altar when He was offering the perfect sacrifice, namely, His own death. She was not a pious bystander to the formation of His priestly character. Mary was His seminary.

"Mary, too, stands by us priests when we offer our lives and sacrifices in union with the one great sacrifice of Christ...

"If I may ask any favor of the faithful in this Year for Priests, I would ask simply that you commend us to the Mother of the High Priest on a regular basis. Mary loves priests very deeply, not only because she sees in us the reflection of her Son, but because she knows how necessary the priestly office is for the sanctification of souls. She is perfectly aware of our many weaknesses and foibles, but she loves us anyway! Please ask her to protect us, to guide us, to purify us like the "sons of Levi" so that we may be able to offer "fitting due sacrifice to the Lord" (Malachi 3:3-4) for the salvation of souls."

~ Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, from The Virgin Mary and the Year for Priests ~

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Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest, Mother of all priests, and our Mother, help us respond generously to the Holy Spirit's request, through the voice of His Church, to offer up to God eucharistic adoration for priests. Amen.