You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek

…“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever.”   

So much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:21-22

Recently I was saddened to read about a popular Priest who has asked to leave the Priesthood.  I am not here to judge him and whatever his journey may have been that led him to this conclusion.  That is for God to deal with.  I will say though that the catechism teaches;

1582 As in the case of Baptism and Confirmation this share in Christ’s office is granted once for all. The sacrament of Holy Orders, like the other two, confers an indelible spiritual character and cannot be repeated or conferred temporarily.

So it is with great sadness to me to hear of a Priest who no longer wants or perhaps cannot perform the duties of his office.  It is a hard time we are living in.

I recently went to the ordination of 5 new Priests.  I thought about how courageous they must have to be to become a Priest in these times.  But God told me, it is grace, because it is He who called them and He who carries them.  They just have to keep their eyes on Him.  You all know that I have felt called to pray specifically for Priests.  I pray every day for a specific Priest God called me to pray for, for the Priests of my parish, and for my cousin who is also a Priest, along with prayer for my Bishop and the Pope.  I keep a list of Priests who have asked me to pray and I ask God to bless them.  In the past, I have used prayers I found online to pray for them, but last week I felt God tug at my heart to write a prayer that can be used to pray for a specific priest by name.  I publish the prayer here because I do think they desperately need prayer, especially the holy ones who are under such attack.  And because there are also so many who failed in their duties that can be called back to the glory that God wants for them.

Lord Jesus you have asked me to pray specifically for the sanctification of your Priest Father (Name).  In obedience to your most Holy will, I ask that you pour the Holy Spirit over him and increase all of his gifts.  I ask our Most Blessed Mother to wrap him in her mantle.  I ask Saint Michael to protect him from the harm of the evil one.  Specifically I ask he be protected from calumny, ridicule, suspicion, and false accusation.  I ask Lord that you pour blessings on his labors and guard his chastity.  In his suffering and sorrow, purify him, comfort him, and draw him closer to your heart.  Lord Jesus, may the people who hear his preaching receive your word and have their hearts and minds opened to the Gospel of your love and mercy. May the power of your presence in the Eucharist he consecrates transform the hearts of the people who receive.  May those who receive your absolution from him become totally healed and reconciled with the fire of the Holy Spirit.  I ask all the Saints in heaven to pray with me for him that through him you will be glorified and praised and may he one day be counted among the Saints in heaven. I ask this in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

“I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16