St. Jean Vianney: Spirit of Sacrifice

Fr. Bing Arellano, spiritual director of the Alliance of the Holy Family Intl., tells the story of St. John Vianney, a humble secular priest, who converted his parishioners and exorcised the demons of Ars, France with his deep prayer, holiness, and ascetical life.

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.

Prayer to St. Jean Vianney for Priests

O Holy Curé of Ars:

During this Year of the Priesthood,

we turn to you, the patron saint of priests,

asking your intercession for all those Christ has called

to serve us in this sacred ministry.

Help all priests to imitate

your total confidence in God’s grace,

constant devotion to prayer,

fatherly care for the poor,

humble willingness to serve the least,

contagious love for the Mass,

joyful fervor in teaching the faith,

willing martyrdom as a confessor,

and burning zeal to show us the path to heaven.

Gain for all priests, especially those who are struggling,

a renewal in the grace of their ordination;

aid the whole Church to grow in appreciation of the gift of the priesthood;

and shepherd in a particular way

those with the vocation to serve us as priests in the future.

Help us all to see and experience the priesthood

as the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen.

The prayer and a beautiful stained glass window of the Holy Curé of Ars was found at St. Anthony of Padua Parish, New Bedford, MA.

St. Louis de Montfort: Consecration to Jesus Through Mary

"As Mary is the treasurer and dispenser of the gifts and graces of the Most High God, she reserves a choice portion, indeed the choicest portion, to nourish and sustain her children and servants. They grow strong on the Bread of Life; they are made joyful with the wine that brings forth virgins. They are carried at her breast. They bear with ease the yoke of Christ scarcely feeling its weight because of the oil of devotion with which she has softened its wood,"

~ St. Louis de Montfort, from True Devotion to Mary ~

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.

New USCCB Website: For Your Vocation

This new website is an initiative of the Bishops of the United States, and is meant to be a resource for men and women in discernment, as an aid for promoting a vocation culture within the home, and a range of tools for educators, youth leaders and vocation directors. Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life are tremendous and essential gifts to the Church, and it is the bishops’ desire that their two goals for this initiative are achieved:

To help individuals hear and respond to the call by God to the priesthood or consecrated life,

and

To educate all Catholics on the importance of encouraging others through prayer
and activities to promote vocations.

For Your Vocation website

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.

Bishop Edward Slattery: Suffering, Obedience, Personal Holiness

Excerpts from Bishop Edward Slattery's Homily at the Solemn Pontifical Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception - Washington, D.C. - celebrating Pope Benedict's fifth anniversary as our Holy Father:

"But the point which we must clarify is that Christ reveals Himself to those who suffer in Christ, to those who humbly accept their pain as a personal sharing in His Passion and who are thus obedient to Christ’s command that we take up our cross and follow Him. Suffering by itself is simply the promise that death will claim these mortal bodies of ours, but suffering in Christ is the promise that we will be raised with Christ, when our mortality will be remade in his immortality and all that in our lives which is broken because it is perishable and finite will be made imperishable and incorrupt."

"Christ’s Sacred Heart is the image of the obedience which Christ showed by his sacrificial love on Calvary. The Sacrifice of Calvary is also for us the means by which we are made obedient and this is a point which you must never forget: at Mass, we offer ourselves to the Father in union with Christ, who offers Himself in perfect obedience to the Father. We make this offering in obedience to Christ who commanded us to “Do this in memory of me” and our obediential offering is perfected in the love with which the Father receives the gift of His Son.

"Do not be surprised then that here at Mass, our bloodless offering of the bloody sacrifice of Calvary is a triple act of obedience. First, Christ is obedient to the Father, and offers Himself as a sacrifice of reconciliation. Secondly, we are obedient to Christ and offer ourselves to the Father with Jesus the Son; and thirdly, in sharing Christ’s obedience to the Father, we are made obedient to a new order of reality, in which love is supreme and life reigns eternal, in which suffering and death have been defeated by becoming for us the means by which Christ’s final victory, his future coming, is made manifest and real today.

"Suffering then, yours, mine, the Pontiffs, is at the heart of personal holiness, because it is our sharing in the obedience of Jesus which reveals his glory. It is the means by which we are made witnesses of his suffering and sharers in the glory to come."

(The entire homily and an opportunity to post your comments to Bishop Slattery are here. To hear his homily click here.)

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.

St. Francis of Assisi: The Sublime Humility of God

"For One in such a lofty position to stoop so low is a marvel that is staggering. What sublime humility and humble sublimeness, that the Lord of the Universe, the Divine Son of God, should stoop as to hide Himself under the appearance of bread for our salvation! Behold the humble way of God, my brothers. Therefore, do not hold yourselves to be anything of yourselves, so that you may be entirely acceptable to One Who gives Himself entirely to you."

~ St. Francis of Assisi ~

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.

Fr. Michael J. Denk: God's Call to the Priesthood

"Unlike buying a car or a house or choosing a college or even a career path a vocation is a call from God. It is not something that we sit down and look at the different options and try something out, no, we believe that it is a call from God in the depth of our heart. God calls us and we respond. It’s not something that we pick out or choose what we think best suits us. God knows us better than we know ourselves. We hear the message in this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me."

"I felt the call to the priesthood since I was a young child but I didn’t enter the seminary until I was near the end of college. There were many things that kept me from going, as there are surely a lot of reasons for young men not to answer today, and a lot of it was because I didn’t want to listen to God’s call. It wasn’t until I said yes that I came to discover what a wonderful life the priesthood is. Anyone that knows me well knows I am truly happy in this life. It is better than I ever imagined it could be."

"If you think someone is called to the priesthood let them know. I think people are afraid to invite young men to this life because of the sacrifice as well as some of the bad publicity in the news. All too often I hear parents encourage their sons: “Go to college first, see if you can be successful at something else, if that doesn’t work, then go be a priest.’ Why would you say that to anyone who is being called by God to the priesthood? I’m sure you know good priests, holy priests, who love their life. If someone has this call why would you ever want them to follow something else? I’ve had a number of grown men come up to me over the years and say “Father, I should have been a priest.” God is calling and this is the rest of your life, so pray about it, and with great courage answer the call and you will discover a life beyond anything you could imagine."

~ Fr. Michael J. Denk, excerpts from Year for Priests: The Call~

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.

Spiritual Bouquet for Pope Benedict XVI

From the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest:

Desiring to show our filial support and gratitude to our Holy Father, the Institute of Christ the King wishes to offer an abundant spiritual bouquet to His Holiness. Your prayers are needed! To participate in this spiritual bouquet, please use our online form below. Simply indicate the number and types of prayers you wish to offer. This spiritual bouquet will then be presented directly to His Holiness.

We especially encourage your prayers and sacrifices during a special Novena beginning on Saturday, April 24, 5th anniversary of the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI, through May 2, which is the first Sunday of the month of Mary, Mother of the Church. During this Novena in support of His Holiness, we will also celebrate on May 1 the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, Patron of the Universal Church and lifelong namesake patron of our Holy Father.

May God bless you for your prayers and sacrifices on behalf of His Vicar on earth.

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.

St. Catherine of Siena on the Holy Priesthood

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.

St. Anselm: "I Am Desperate for Your Love, Lord..."

“I adore and venerate you as much as ever I can, though my love is so cold, my devotion so poor. Thank you for the good gift of this your holy Body and Blood, which I desire to receive…,”

~ St. Anselm, Archbishop and Doctor of the Church ~

I am desperate for Your love, Lord.
My heart is aflame with fervent passion.
When I remember the good things You have done,
My heart burns with desire to embrace You.
I thirst for You,
I hunger for You.
I long for You,
I sigh for You.
I am jealous for Your love.
What shall I say to You?
What can I do for You?
Where shall I seek You?
I am sick for Your love.
The joy of my heart turns to dust.
My happy laughter is reduced to ashes.
I want You.
I hope for You.
My soul is like a widow, bereft of You.
Turn to me, and see my tears.
I will weep until You come to me.
Come now, Lord, and I will be comforted.
Show me Your face, and I shall be saved.
Enter my room, and I shall be satisfied.
Reveal Your beauty, and my joy will be complete.

~ St. Anselm of Canterbury ~

Hungry, I come to you for I know you satisfy
I am empty, but I know Your love does not run dry
And so I wait for You so I wait for You

I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus, You're all this heart is living for

Broken, I run to You for Your arms are open wide
I am weary, but I know Your touch restores my life
And so I wait for You so I wait for You

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.

Ave Verum Corpus

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.

Pope Benedict XVI's Daily "Yes" to God

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.

Pope Benedict XVI With Johhny Cash: I've Been Everywhere!

Johnny Cash sings the song, "I've Been Everywhere." The Pope lives it! He's a travelling Pope.

~ Msgr. Charles Pope ~

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.

Mary, Eminent Formator of the Priesthood

Every priest knows that Mary, because she is a mother, is the eminent formator of the priesthood, since she is the one who knows how to shape the priestly heart; the Virgin, therefore, knows and wants to protect priests from dangers, exhaustion, and discouragement: with motherly solicitude she watches over the priest so that he may grow in wisdom, age, and grace before God and before men (34).

Those who do not know how to imitate the virtues of their mother are not devoted sons. The priest, therefore, must look to Mary if he wants to be a humble, obedient, and chaste minister who can give witness to charity through total donation to the Lord and to the Church (35).

The masterpiece of Christ's priestly sacrifice, the Virgin represents the Church in the most pure manner, "without stain or wrinkle," totally "holy and immaculate" (36). The contemplation of the Blessed Virgin keeps ever in sight the ideal that the priest must always pursue in his ministry of caring for his own flock, so that this flock also may be "the wholly glorious Church" through the priestly gift of his own life (37).

Finally, Mary is the "offering Virgin." The Church has perceived in the heart of the Virgin who carried the Child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, a willing oblation that transcended the ordinary meaning of the rite (51). "You offer your Son, Holy Virgin, and you present to the Lord the blessed fruit of your womb. You offer the holy victim, pleasing to God, for the reconciliation of us all" (St Bernard).

This union of the Mother with the Son in the work of redemption reaches its culmination at Calvary, where Christ "offered himself, immaculate, to God" (52) and where Mary was beside the cross (53) suffering deeply with her Only Son and associating herself with motherly courage to his sacrifice, adhering lovingly to the immolation of the Victim engendered by her and offering herself as well to the Eternal Father. To perpetuate throughout the centuries the Sacrifice of the Cross, the Savior instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice, memorial of his death and resurrection, and he confided it to his Spouse, the Church... who accomplishes it in union with the Saints in Heaven and, in the first place, with the blessed Virgin, whose ardent charity and unshakable faith she imitates (54).

Therefore the Church, with this same oblationary fervor and spirit lived by Mary, continually exhorts the priest to prepare himself and celebrate the Eucharist, center and summit of his interior life and apostolate. May his priestly hands elevate the consecrated bread and wine, Body and Blood of the Lord, just as Mary offered him as a child in the Temple, and having consummated the redemption at the foot of the cross, may he return it to the Father as an expiatory offering for our sins.

~ Mons. Norberto Rivera, Archbishop, Primate of Mexico
excerpts from The Blessed Virgin Mary in the Life and Ministry of the Priest ~

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.

Prayer for Pope Benedict XVI

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.

Fr. Mark Kirby: Intercession Prayer for Priests

O my beloved Jesus,
I adore Thee and confess Thee truly present here before my eyes
in this, the Sacrament of Thy Love.
Let me adore Thee for those of Thy priests who do not adore Thee.
Let me believe in Thy real presence for those whose faith has grown weak.
Let me love Thee for those priests of Thine whose hearts have grown cold towards Thee in this Sacrament.
And let me hope in Thee for those whose lives are dark with hopelessness.

Turn upon them all, O Jesus, the light of Thy Eucharistic Face.
Let not a single priest of Thine remain in the outer darkness
where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Send to them Thy holy Angels to guide their steps to Thy sanctuaries
and to lead them to the foot of Thy tabernacles,
where Thou waitest for them,
ready to heal them,
to cleanse them of their sins,
and to grace them with the sweetness of Thy Eucharistic Friendship.

Though we are few, beloved Jesus,
receive our hours of adoration for the sake of all Thy priests,
and by the prayers of Thy Most Holy Mother,
deign to make fruitful the time Thou givest us to spend before Thy Eucharistic Face,
close to Thy Open Heart.

Take the little we offer Thee, Lord Jesus,
and multiply its effects for the sanctification of Thy priests,
for the joy of Thy Church,
and for the glory of Thy Father. Amen.

~ Fr. Mark Kirby, from Vultus Christi ~

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.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity for Priests

“Most Holy Trinity,

please grant our Holy Father, our Bishop and all clergy

the perseverance, fortitude, strength, wisdom and compassion

necessary to fight the forces of evil

which assail them from within and without the Church.

Help them to lead their flocks to full conversion,

final perseverance and eternal salvation.

We ask this through, Jesus Christ

who lives and reigns in heaven

together with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.”

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.

Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, CMF: The Angel of Biscay

catholicstudio — April 12, 2010 — He is called to be a vessel for Christ through a life steeped in prayer and sacred Scripture.
He is consecrated to preach the Gospel, shepherd the faithful and celebrate Divine worship.
The example of his holiness will make him shine like a star and in so doing win souls for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Now, more than ever, the world needs HOLY PRIESTS - living examples of true faith in action....

In a time of World upheaval God raised up an extraordinary priest. So completely did he sacrifice his will in the service of God and neighbour that blessings were showered upon him in abundance. His sanctity was confirmed by miracles. But, suffering became his companion, and dark nights he humbly endured.

This 75 minute film tells the amazing story of Fr Aloysius Ellacuria CMF and traces his life journey from his Basque home. Filmed on location in Spain, Portugal, Mexico and the United States we trace the amazing life of a man who gave up his life in the service of others and in so doing was abundantly blessed with rare spiritual gifts.

Filmed on location, the film illustrates the character, mission and spirituality of a truly remarkable priest who changed the lives of so many.

The Angel of Biscay (extended promo) from CatholicStudio on Vimeo.

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.

Fr. Nicholas Azar: Vocation Story

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.

Divine Mercy Sunday: Jesus of Mercy

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.

Mary, Immaculate Conception, Pray for Priests!

"I Am The Immaculate Conception"

~ Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Bernadette ~

O Jesus, Eternal High Priest, live in (name a priest),
act in him, speak in and through him.
Think Your thoughts in his mind,
love through his heart.
Give him Your Own dispositions and feelings.
Teach, lead and guide him always.
Correct, enlighten and expand his
thoughts and behavior.
Enable him to give himself entirely to You.
Possess his soul;
take over his entire personality and life.
Replace him with Yourself.
Incline him to constant adoration and thanksgiving;
pray in and through him.
Let him live in You
and keep him in this intimate union always.

O Mary, Immaculate Conception,
Mother of Jesus and Mother of priests,
pray and intercede for (name of priest). Amen.

"Let all the children of the Catholic Church, who are so very dear to us, hear these words of ours. With a still more ardent zeal for piety, religion and love, let them continue to venerate, invoke and pray to the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, conceived without original sin. Let them fly with utter confidence to this most sweet Mother of mercy and grace in all dangers, difficulties, needs, doubts and fears. Under her guidance, under her patronage, under her kindness and protection, nothing is to be feared; nothing is hopeless. Because, while bearing toward us a truly motherly affection and having in her care the work of our salvation, she is solicitous about the whole human race. And since she has been appointed by God to be the Queen of heaven and earth, and is exalted above all the choirs of angels and saints, and even stands at the right hand of her only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, she presents our petitions in a most efficacious manner. What she asks, she obtains. Her pleas can never be unheard.

~ Pope Pius IX, Given at St. Peter's in Rome, the eighth day of December, 1854, in the eighth year of our pontificate. ~

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.

Jesus Christ You Are My Life

O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priests. Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of their priestly life.

In their loneliness, comfort them. In their sorrows, strengthen them. In their frustrations, point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show them that they are needed by the Church; they are needed by souls; they are needed for the work of redemption.

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordination and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much. Be their comfort, be their joy, be their strength, and especially help them to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.

~ By J. Cardinal Carberry ~

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.

Universal Call to Holiness

The words that Fr S addresses to brother priests in the excerpts below can just as well be applied to the non-ordained. We are all called to the heights of holiness--to sainthood. Can we honestly say that we are living for God and His glory more than for ourselves? Are His priorities our priorities? Do we want to please Him in all that we think, say and do? Do we love Him more than anyone else or anything that the world has to offer?

The Holy Father has been inspired to ask for a year of special prayer and sacrifice for priests. His request echoes the sentiments of Jesus when He said to Venerable Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, "...I want souls who are dedicated with fervor, with determination and without looking for rest, to plead day and night for My priests."

The Year for Priests is quickly drawing to a close. Have we been more attentive during this year to the obligation to spiritually support our Catholic priests? Do we pray for priests, sacrifice and mortify ourselves for them? Never? Seldom? Frequently? Every Day? Could we do more? Should we do more? What does Jesus want us to do? Have we tried to satisfy the thirst of Jesus for holy priests and holy people?

Fr S has written a thought provoking post:

"...Our Holy Father tries to be holy; no one can doubt that. But priests need to try to be holy, too! So long as we pass the buck to others and give ourselves a pass we will never have the success that we could.

"If we look through history, there have been times of great religious fervor and great religious torpor. Right now it seems that we are in the latter. We are all waiting around, wondering who the next saints will be to lift us out of this mire. Why is it that we cannot be those ones? Why do we not pray for the charismatic gifts? Why do we not pray to share in the Cross? Why do we not ask huge things of Our Lord? Why do we not seek holiness and holiness alone? What other solution can there be?

"The sad state of things in so many places is that when one priest tries to live out a holy life, he is branded as extreme. He looks at what saints did in earlier days and is drawn to mortification and simplicity, all the while being thought of as crazy by the brethren. This has got to stop. No matter how holy the Holy Father is or a few bishops are, they need our help. They need our sacrifice, our mortification, our intercession. We have all of the tools we need, but we have to put them into practice. Holiness alone! Sola sanctitas! We have got to draw the line here and give not even an inch. "

~ Excerpts from Sola Sanctitas by Fr. S at Clerical Reform ~

~ AN APPEAL FOR ONE HOUR OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR PRIESTS ~

(The poll counter has gone haywire the last couple of months and is counting backwards. Don't let that stop you from making a commitment to offer a Holy Hour for priests. What is important is the commitment--not the number. Only 71 days left in this Year for Priests.)

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.

Resurrection Scenes from the Gospel of John

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.

Support the Pope

Thanks to Jane at Spiritual Mothers of Priests for information about a new petition in support of Pope Benedict XVI.

From Support The Pope:

This website is a humble gesture of reassurance for Pope Benedict XVI. This site provides individuals with a way to pledge their love, prayers, and support for Pope Benedict XVI, as well as our bishops and priests, in the hopes that if it gains enough momentum, he will hear of our sentiments.

Novena for Pope Benedict XVI

The Knights of Columbus invite everyone to join in praying a special novena for Pope Benedict XVI, beginning Divine Mercy Sunday, April 11, and concluding Monday, April 19, the fifth anniversary of the Holy Father’s election in 2005.

PRAYER FOR POPE BENEDICT XVI

Lord, source of eternal life and truth,
give to your shepherd, Benedict, a spirit
of courage and right judgment, a spirit
of knowledge and love. By governing
with fidelity those entrusted to his care,
may he, as successor to the Apostle Peter
and Vicar of Christ, build your Church
into a sacrament of unity, love and peace
for all the world. Amen.
V/ Let us pray for Benedict, the pope.
R/ May the Lord preserve him,
give him a long life,
make him blessed upon the earth,
and not hand him over
to the power of his enemies.
V/ May your hand
be upon your holy servant.
R/ And upon your son,
whom you have anointed.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
In Solidarity With Our Holy Father
Adapted from Manual of Prayers

For printable copies of the prayer, click here.

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.

Fr. James Farfaglia: Renew our Love for the Eucharist and the Catholic Priesthood

The root cause of the attacks against the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI and the Catholic priesthood is Satan's intense hatred of Jesus Christ and His Real Presence in the Eucharist. His hatred is spewed out in unrelenting vindictiveness against our Lord and Savior, targeting especially the men Jesus has chosen to be 'other Christs' and shepherds of his flock.

A most powerful weapon against these attacks is an increased love and devotion for Jesus in the Eucharist, increased attendance at Mass, increased Eucharistic adoration, increased prayers and sacrifices for His priests.

Jesus said to Venerable Concepcion Cabrera de Armida, "If the faithful love Me, if they want to glorify Me as is their duty of love, nothing can be greater for them to do for Me than what they do for My priests, which is as they would have done for Me Myself..."

Fr. James Farfaglia reflects:

"At every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we participate in a marvelous miracle, the miracle called Transubstantiation."

"When the priest repeats the words that Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, the bread is no longer bread, and the wine is no longer wine. Instead, the entire substance of the bread and the entire substance of the wine have been changed into the substance of The Body and Blood of Christ."

"Without the priesthood there is no Eucharist. So, is it any wonder that there is such a frontal attack on the Catholic priesthood today?"

"A true renewal of the Catholic priesthood is needed. We desperately need holy priests and courageous bishops."

"Despite the fact that vocations are on the rise and many wonderful things are happening in the Catholic Church both in this country and throughout the world, there is an undercurrent that seems to be constantly working against the work of God and his Church."

"My dear friends, we do live in difficult times. But, let us never be discouraged. On this Holy Thursday let us renew our love for the Eucharist and the Catholic priesthood. Let us pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Michael Archangel so that the clergy may always be holy, faithful and courageous."

~ Excerpts from A Holy Thursday Reflection by Fr. James Farfaglia ~

On Holy Thursday night, Father James Farfaglia does not shy away from controversy, but deals with it directly. Father explains the cause of the abuse scandal in the Church and defends Pope Benedict XVI. He ties in the open rejection of Humanae Vitae and the immoral world that we deal with today. He does not shy away from the attacks on the Church from freemasonary and the international communism of the former Soviet Empire. He exhorts young men contemplating the Catholic priesthood to be great heroes, great saints and great martyrs.

~ Fr. Farfaglia's Holy Thursday homily; The Pope, the Priesthood and the Eucharist ~

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.

Regina Coeli Laetare: Queen of Heaven, Rejoice!

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Regina Caeli is sung or recited in place of the Angelus during the Easter season, from Holy Saturday through Pentecost Sunday. (Source)

The authorship of the "Regina Coeli" being unknown, legend says the St. Gregory the Great (d. 604) heard the first three lines chanted by angels on a certain Easter morning in Rome while he walked barefoot in a great religious procession and that the saint thereupon added the fourth line: "Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia." (See also SALVE REGINA for a similar attribution of authorship). The authorship has also been ascribed to Gregory V, but without good reason. (Source)

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.

Divine Mercy Novena: Prayers for God's Mercy on the Whole World

Today is the second Day of the Divine Mercy Novena. (Jesus asked St. Faustina to also pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for nine days beginning on Good Friday).

Second day:

"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

* In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use.

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.

We Are the Reason Jesus Suffered and Died

If I were anything other than a Christian, I would probably despair of the status of the culture all around us...

The reason I don't despair in the face of all this darkness, though, is because I remember that once-upon-a-time Evil had its Hour. I am not talking about sixty-minutes of willowy darkness. I am talking about the worst crime ever committed in history, the blackest deed ever known to man: the killing of the Son of God on Calvary. The corrupt politicians, clergy and laity of the day were all implicated in the crime. Worst of all, the devil was sitting back gloating at his masterpiece of evil.

But much to the devil's surprise, evil did not win the Day...because at that very moment of deepest darkness, the Son of God did something utterly unforeseen and caught the whole wicked world unaware: He shattered the darkness and rose from the dead! Who would have imagined!

Ever after, those who persevere through Good Friday looking toward the joy of Easter Sunday find themselves immersed in the same eternal mystery of Light. Christ has pierced the darkness and given us Hope! We can sing the great "Te Deum" hymn with the greatest fervor now in every dark hour of our lives: "In you Lord is our hope - and we shall never hope in vain!"

~ Fr. Thomas Euteneuer, excerpt from Piercing the Darkness ~

The Divine Mercy Novena requested by Jesus begins today and is found here.

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.

Passion and Death of Jesus Christ: I See Love

Some see a teacher
Standing on a hill
Speaking words of wisdom
Some see a healer
Reaching out his hand
To give sight to a blind man
Some see a dreamer
Wasting his life
On what can never be
Some see a fool
Dying for his dreams

But I see love (I see love)
I see love (I see love)
Light of heaven breaking through
Well I see grace (I see grace)
I see God's face (I See Gods face)
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you
I see love

Some see a prisoner
Alone before his judge
With no one to defend him
Some see a victim
Beaten and abused
With all the world against him
Some see a martyr
Carrying his cross
For what he believes
Some see a hero
Who set his people free

But I see love (I see love)
I see love (I see love)
Light of heaven breaking through
Well I see grace (I see grace)
I see God's face (I See Gods face)
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you

With your last breath
I see love
Through your death
I see love
I see peace in the eyes of the king
I see hope in your suffering (I see love)
I see a calm in the center of the storm
I see a Saviour

I see love
I see love
Light of heaven breaking through (heaven breaking through)
I see grace
I see God's face
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you
I see love
When I see you
I see heaven breaking through
See Gods face
Shining pure and perfect love
When I see you
When I see you
When I see you
I see love
I see love
When I see

Some see Him walking from an empty grave...

Source of lyrics

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.