In observance of Pope Leo’s prayer intention for April, for priests in crisis, we share this beautiful prayer from the booklet Praying for Our Priests.

By Msgr. Peter Dunne and Vicki Herout, its subtitle is A Guide to Praying for the Priesthood in Union with Mary, Queen of the Clergy. For more information, visit prayingforourpriests.org.

O Most Holy Trinity,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
we adore You and we love You with all our hearts.
We come before You,
humbly and prayerfully,
to intercede for all Your holy priesthood.
(We lift up in a special way all the priests who reside in our diocese.)

Father, we give You thanks with grateful hearts for the faithful
witness of so many priest-sons. Bless and protect them,
Father, hold them and shelter them in the palm of Your Hand.

Jesus, Eternal High Priest,
we lift up to You those priests who suffer and struggle,
those who are heavy-burdened,
and those who have lost their way.
Bless and heal them, Jesus,
You Who have said,
“Come to Me all you who find life burdensome…
and I will give you rest.”

Holy Spirit, Eternal Love of the Father and the Son,
pour out Your Love, Your Gifts, and Your Graces on every
priest of God. Strengthen them, Holy Spirit, fill them and
assure them of our love.

O Mary, Mother of Jesus,
Queen and Mother of all priests,
intercede for these special sons of yours.
Hold them in your Immaculate Heart, cradle them in your arms,
protect them from every evil bent against them,
teach them to love, and lead them at last
into the arms of your Son in Heaven.

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, Model of the Priestly Heart,
Have mercy on all priests.