PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

God, our loving Father, we thank you for your

priests. Despite their limitations and weaknesses,
they are chosen from the People of God to
perpetuate in the Church the priesthood of Christ.
To them you gave the dignity of the royal
priesthood, so that through the laying on of hands,
they may participate in the sacred mission of
Christ.
Our compassionate Father, you know your
priests. They may be unworthy to represent your
Son. But you look more at the beauty and
goodness within them. They may be sinners like
us, but with the help of your grace: the priests act
in the name of Christ, set before your family His
paschal meal, lead your holy people in love,
nourish them by your Word, and strengthen them
by the sacraments.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father in
heaven and on earth, we beg you to bless your
priests. We believe you have called the through
your Son. Through Him and with the help of the
Holy Spirit: may they be guided when they are lost;
may you be their home when they are alone and
lonely; may they find strength and consolation in
you, when they are weak, hopeless and helpless;
may the warmth of your love embrace them, when
nobody cares and understands; may you teach
them how to pray, when the well of their spirit
runs dry. Above all, may they grow in the likeness
of Christ, so that they can honor you by their

courageous witness of faith, hope and love, may

they always follows the examples Jesus Christ;
humble and true, gentle and firm, loving and
compassionate; as they pray with and on behalf of
your people; as they preach the Good News to all;
as they serve that lost, the last and the least of all.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.