Litany of Prayers for Priests

By. Richard Cardinal Cushing.

O Almighty Eternal God our Father, look upon the face of Your Son, and for love of Him Who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on your priests. Remember O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation.

O Jesus, Our Eternal High Priest, I pray:

— for Your faithful and fervent PRIESTS;

— for Your unfaithful and tepid PRIESTS;

— for Your PRIESTS laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; 

— for Your tempted PRIESTS;

— for Your young PRIESTS;

— for Your dying PRIESTS;

— for the souls of Your PRIESTS in Purgatory.

But above all, I commend to You:

• —  the PRIESTS dearest to me; Fr. _____________________

• —  the PRIEST who baptized me;

• —  the PRIESTS who absolved me from my sins;

• —  the PRIESTS at whose MASSES I assist;

• —  the PRIESTS who taught and instructed me about You and Your Holy

  Scriptures;

• —  the PRIESTS who helped and encouraged me to accept You as my Lord

  and Savior;

• —  and all the PRIESTS whom You sent to touch my life and those of my

  loved ones.

Let Us Pray For:

The Holy Father: ........................................fill him with Your grace, Lord;

Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops:......... give them your gifts, Lord; 

Diocesan Priests:.....................................................never leave them, Lord; 

Priests in seminary work: ........................ give them Your wisdom, Lord; 

Priests in hospital work:..................................give them constancy, Lord; 

Priests who are ill:............................................................... heal them, Lord; 

Priests in danger: ............................................................deliver them, Lord; 

Priests who are weak: .............................................strengthen them, Lord; 

Priests who are poor:......................................................relieve them, Lord; 

Priests who are zealous:....................................................help them, Lord; 

Priests who want to love You: .......................enkindle their hearts, Lord; 

Priests who are sad:......................................................console them, Lord; 

Priests who are worried:......................................... give them peace, Lord; 

Priests who are old: ....................................................... sustain them, Lord; 

Priests who are young: .......................... impel them for your glory, Lord; 

Priests who are alone: ........................................... accompany them, Lord; 

Missionary priests:.........................................................protect them, Lord;

Priests who are preachers:....................................... enlighten them, Lord; 

Priests who direct souls: ............................................. instruct them, Lord; 

Parish priests:........................................................make them perfect, Lord; 

Priests and religious who have died:...........bring them to Glory, Lord; 

All the Church, militant and suffering:...................... Lord, have mercy.

For all Priests:

— Give them Your wisdom, Lord.

— Give them virtues.

— Give them patience and charity.

— Give them obedience and kindness.

— Give them a burning zeal for souls.

— Give them an intense love for the Eucharist.

— Give them loyalty to the Pope and their Bishops. 

— Give them respect for their dignity.

— Give them a great love for Mary. 

— Give them rectitude for justice.

— Give them the gift of counsel.

— Give them strength in their labors. 

— Give them peace in their sufferings. 

— Give them humility and generosity. 

— Let them be the light of souls.

— Let them be the salt of the earth.

— Let them practice sacrifice and self denial.

— Let them enkindle hearts with the love of Mary.

— Let them be other Christs.

— Let them be holy in body and soul.

— May they be men of prayer.

— May faith shine forth in them.

— May they be faithful to their priestly vocation.

— May their hands know only how to bless.

— May they burn with love for You and for Mary.

— May all their steps be for the glory of God.

— May the Holy Spirit possess them, and give them His gifts and fruits in abundance.

Let us pray, O God, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. You are the soul and the life of the Church. Hear the prayers we offer for priests. We ask this through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, their protector and guide. Amen.