THE PRIESTHOOD

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Blessed Joseph Gerard, OMI

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Fr. Gerard was born in France and entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate at twenty. He was ordained in South Africa, where he worked among the Zulu people. In 1862 he went to Lesotho, where he spent the rest of his life with the Basutho people. A flourishing local Catholic church bears witness to his life and work. He died on May 29, 1914 and was declared Blessed on September 14, 1988 by John Paul II.

Today there are many priests in trouble or who are troubled by the problems of the modern Church. Most of us have our complaints as well, but we have little or no authority as lay persons and can do nothing. As traditionalists we find ourselves all too often as pariahs, even by good priests who should know better but do not seem to know what to do as they are caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. It is time to pray for priests in earnest, beyond our regular daily mentions to God for a particular priest here and there. Thus, we are honoring Fr. Joseph Gerard, O.M.I., South African Missionary, whose Feast Day is May 29, and who was known not only for his untiring work among the sick and poor, but for his exemplary prayer life. Let us imitate him and be ambassadors before the Court of the Lord, sendingup our entreaties to Heaven on behalf of the souls of priests, especially those priests we know who appear weak in their faith and subject to falling prey to whatever ill wind blows through the Church. Let us pray for our priests and the seminarians coming after them.
Novena For Blessed Joseph Gerard Father, in Heaven, we thank you for the abundance of Your bless ings in the life of of Joseph Gerard. Keep us faithful to his example and make us messengers of Your Word, so that the Good News of Our Savior Jesus Christ may be heard and heeded in our world today. In Your bounty grant to us the special grace we ask, as we pray through Christ Our Lord. Amen. Prayer for Priests O Jesus, Great King, Good Shepherd, Eternal Prelate, Thou hast given to Thy servants a royal priesthood, bless Thy priests. Let Thy almighty love surround them and preserve them from all evil.

Remember O Heart of Jesus, they are the object of Satan's deadliest snares. Keep them in the safe citadel of Thy Sacred Heart. There let them be sanctified.

May they be one with Thee, and one among themselves. Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may they to whom they have ministered be their joy here and hereafter their eternal recompense. Amen.

Short Prayers

O JESUS, Eternal Priest, keep all Thy priests within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart, where none may harm them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands which daily touch Thy Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips purpled with Thy Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts sealed with the sublime marks of Thy glorious priesthood.
O Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for them; obtain for us holy priests.

Prayer for Priests

O MY GOD, poor, weak and miserable as I am, I have come to spend this hour alone with You, in reparation for the priests who have forgotten that they are Your chosen souls. Especially, dear God, do I offer this holy hour for the priest who at the moment needs it most. In praying for consecrated souls, help me to remember my own utter weakness, misery and nothingness. Were it not for Your grace, I would be far worse than those for whom I pray. O MY GOD, help those priests who are faithful, to remain faithful; to those who are falling, stretch forth Thy Divine Hand that they may grasp it as their support. And for those unfortunate souls who have fallen, lift them up in the great ocean of Your Mercy, that being egulfed therin. they may receive the grace, to return to Your Great Loving Heart. Amen. NIHIL OBSTAT and IMPRIMATUR
The Rosary for Priests

This Rosary is said with the regular beads, using the Sorrowful Mysteries, whatever day it is prayed.
The intention for the decades dedicated to priests are below. THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN The Apostles fall asleep; Jesus sweats Blood at the thought of His coming passion and death; angels come to comfort Him. We pray that all priests who are suffering and on the way to Calvary may be comforted by God's presence; those who have betrayed or denied the Faith through weakness may repent and return to the grace of God. JESUS IS SCOURGED Jesus is cruelly scourged and beaten by the soldiers. We pray for priests who are persecuted, physically, or mentally abused; those who are imprisoned or prevented from offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or receiving Holy Communion. We pray for those priests living under Communist oppression. JESUS IS CROWNED WITH THORNS Jesus is mocked as king and His precious Head is cruelly pierced by thorns. <>We pray for priests who suffer for defending the authentic Catholic doctrine. We pray that all Bishops will uphold the true teachings of the Catholic Church and resist temptations to compromise doctrine in the face of cultural and social pressures. JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS Bruised, bleeding, and exhausted, Jesus is forced to drag Himself and His cross up the Hill to Calvary. We pray for all priests with heavy crosses; those who are weak, lonely, or have fallen from God's grace in some way. We pray for the Holy Father, who perhaps has the heaviest of crosses: the widespread persecution and abandonment of the Church from within and without. JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS Jesus sheds His last drops of Precious Blood to redeemus from sin and death. We pray for all priests who are in their last agony and those who will die today. We pray for those who thirst for the salvation of souls. We pray that priests may take Mary into their hearts, as St. John the Apostle, one of the first priests, took Mary into his home. Dear Sacred Heart of Jesus: we renew our love and loyalty to Thee. Keep us always close to Thy loving heart and to the most pure heart of Thy Mother.

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