“Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.”
On October 22, 1978, the late Pope John Paul II began his pontificate with these words. This is a call to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
His beatification was on Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011. Pope Francis will canonize him on April 27, 2014, Divine Mercy Sunday.
The witness of the life of this great man, and the words he spoke in his many homilies, speeches, and encyclicals are more relevant today than ever, especially to today's teenagers, who may be too young to remember or recognize John Paul II's influence on the Church and on the world. Today let us pray to Blessed John Paul II for our priests, who were so dear to his heart. Many vocations were revealed to men through his powerful witness.
PRAYER TO THE BLESSED MOTHER FOR PRIESTS
O Mary, 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.
O Mother of Christ, the Messiah, to priests you gave a body of flesh through the anointing of the Holy Spirit for the salvation of the poor and contrite of heart. Guard priests in your heart and in the Church, O Mother of the Savior.
O 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.
O Mother of the Church, in the midst of 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 full measure of gifts, O Queen of the Apostles.
O Mother of Jesus Christ, you were with him at the beginning of his life and mission and 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, your son, near at hand; accept from the beginning those who have been called, protect their growth, in their life ministry accompany your sons, O Mother of Priests. Amen.
Blessed John Paul II, on your feast day today, we ask you to bless and protect our priests and keep them holy. Blessed Mother Mary, watch over our priests and wrap your mantle around them. We ask you to pray for our priests who bring us the Eucharist, the source of all life and love.
October 22, 2013
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