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June 23, 2011World Day of Prayer for Priests and Special Novena
"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us."
Friday, July 1 is when many priests of our diocese will begin their first, or a new, clergy assignment in their priesthood vocation. This day is also celebrated in the Church as the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 2002, the Catholic Church designated a special world day of prayer for the sanctification of priests to also occur on this holy feast day.
We invite you and your family to join Catholics across the globe for a day of prayer and thanksgiving for the priests in our parishes. Below is a prayer for priests that you may wish to use.
Beginning today, June 23, is a special novena that will culminate on the world day of prayer for the sanctification of priests. If you would like to take part in this prayer with daily Scripture readings, please view it using the link below.
Read more about the World Day of Prayer for priests online at WorldPriestDay.com
Pray the Sacred Heart Novena found online at WorldPriestDay.com (pdf)
Prayer for Priests
O Jesus, eternal High Priest, who, in an incomparable love for men,
allowed Catholic priesthood to issue from Thy Sacred Heart,
deign to continue to pour out on Thy priests the life-giving streams of Infinite Love.
Live in them, transform them into Thyself;
Render them by Thy grace instruments of Thy Mercy;
Act in them and through them and grant that they may perform in Thy Name
and by the strength of Thy Spirit, the works which Thou Thyself
has accomplished for the salvation of this world.
Divine Redeemer of souls,
see how great is the multitude of those who still sleep in the darkness of error;
count the number of those unfaithful sheep who are walking on the edge of an abyss;
consider the crowds of the poor, the hungry, the ignorant and the weak,
who are groaning in their state of abandonment.
Return to us again, dear Sacred Heart of Jesus,
live again in very truth in them;
act through them and pass again through this world
teaching, pardoning, consoling, offering sacrifice, renewing the Bonds of Love
between the Heart of God and the hearts of men.
We pray through the intercession of Mary, Mother of all hearts.
Amen