Mary TV: July 15, 2019 Reflection - May your prayers always be along side them.

A blessing from the Priests on Retreat in Medjugorje  

(c)Mary TV / Anthony Zubac 2019

July 15, 2019 

Saint Bonaventure

 

Dear Family of Mary!

"...My children, as a mother I am telling you: you cannot go on the way of faith and follow my Son without your shepherds. Pray that they may have the strength and the love to lead you. May your prayers always be alongside them. Thank you.  (July 2, 2019)

The past few days in Medjugorje priests from all over the world have gathered for the Annual Priest's Retreat. It is reported that over 350 priests attended from 32 countries. After Holy Mass on Saturday night- July 13 - the priest retreatants gathered around the altar and gave a priestly blessing to all the pilgrims at the church! It was a powerful moment!! (See the picture above)

Our Lady frequently reminds us to pray for our priests. She knows how very much we need them. They are our connection with heaven and with Jesus. Without them, we could not receive the Sacraments, of which we have great need. Here are two prayers that may help us to pray for our priests daily. St. Pope John Paul II and St. Faustina Kowalska, our great Polish saints, wrote these prayers. We can pray them with all our hearts!

 

St. Pope John Paul II's Prayer for Priests to Our Blessed Mother

Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests,

Accept this title which we bestow on you to celebrate your motherhood and to contemplate with you the priesthood of your Son and of your sons, O holy Mother of God.

Mother of Christ, to the Messiah Priest you gave a body of flesh
through the anointing of the Holy Spirit for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart; guard priests in your heart and in the Church, O Mother of the Savior.

Mother of Faith, you accompanied to the Temple the Son of Man,
the fulfillment of the promises given to the fathers; give to the Father for his glory the priests of your Son, O Ark of the Covenant.

Mother of the Church, with the disciples in the Upper Room
you prayed to the Spirit for the new People and their shepherds;
obtain for the Order of Presbyters a fullness of gifts, O Queen of the Apostles.

Mother of Jesus Christ, you were with Him at the beginning of His life and of His mission, you sought the Master among the crowd,
you stood beside Him when he was lifted up from the earth
consumed as the one eternal sacrifice, and you had John close by you, your son; accept from the beginning those who have been called, protect their growth, accompany your sons in their life and in their ministry, O Mother of Priests.

 

St. Faustina's Prayer for Priests

Heavenly Father, grant that our priests be strengthened and healed 

by the power of the Eucharist they celebrate.  

May the Word they proclaim give them courage and wisdom.

We pray that all those whom they seek to serve  

May see in them the love and care of Jesus,  

Our Eternal High Priest, who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

Mary, Mother of the Church, look tenderly upon your sons, our priests.  

St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us all.

O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church: 

Grant it love and the light of Your Spirit and give power to the words of priests so that hardened hearts might be brought to repentance and return to You, O Lord.

Lord, give us holy priests;  

You Yourself maintain them in holiness.

O Divine and Great High Priest,  

may the power of Your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil's snares which are continually being set for the souls of priests.  

May the power of Your mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring to naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priests, for You can do all things.

  

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! 

Cathy Nolan 

©Mary TV 2019

 

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
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