Praying for Our Priests

In light of the recent scandal involving another Roman Catholic priest, the main stream media is again giddy in their revived arguments against celibacy. What one thing has to do with another could only be understood by the enemies of the Church.

They seem to forget that celibacy on the part of the priest is a gift to God.

Let this be a wake up call to those of us who have been lax in praying constantly for our priests. We know that the Devil is constantly on the attack for the souls of our priests.

So to those of you who are tempted to discuss the current events, read the tabloid-like reporting, and criticize a priest's actions...., I challenge you to pray daily for a specific priest as well as all of the priests in general, make sacrifices for them, make a Holy Hour of Adoration for them, become a spiritual mom and spiritually adopt a priest, etc.

See what St. Francis of Assisi who thought himself unworthy to be a priest, thought of the holy priesthood:

...On a time as he sat at the table, and collation was made of the poverty of the Blessed Virgin our Lady, anon S. Francis arose and began to weep and sob sorrowfully, so that his visage was all wet of tears, and began to eat the remnant of his bread upon the ground.

He would also that right great reverence should be done to the hands of priests, to whom was given power to sacre the blessed sacrament of our Lord.

And then he said oft: If it happed me to meet any saint coming from heaven, and also a poor priest, I would first go kiss the priest's hands, and would say to the saint: Holy saint, abide a while, for the hands of this priest have handled the son of life, and hath performed a thing above humanity...

Medieval Sourcebook, the Golden Legend: St. Francis

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
By the late John J Cardinal Carberry

Keep them; I pray Thee, dearest Lord.
Keep them, for they are Thine
The priests whose lives burn out before
Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world,
Though from the world apart.
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure --
Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them and comfort them in hours
Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice
For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them and remember, Lord,
they have no one but Thee.
Yet, they have only human hearts,
With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host,
That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed,
Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

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