Posted on 04/16/2002 8:05:03 AM PDT by history_matters
I have been praying for complete revelation, complete reconciliation, and for the complete renewal of the Church. Likewise, I will pray for all priests and deacons with renewed vigor. My father always told me I should pray for the clergy (no matter if they were faithful or not), and I should pray for them until I wept tears for them. May God grant me a portion of my father's love for the priesthood and the diaconate in Christ. And may I beat my anger into prayers of blessing that are more effective before the face of God than all of my fuming and fretting.
Will you join me?
PS. Let's keep this thread bumped.
Oh, dear lady, you bring tears to my eyes with your post. The tears take me back to the days after my husband's death when I was too angry to pray and I just basically wandered through each day in a torrent of emotions. Only pausing to say the AA prayer about serenity, courage and wisdom, sometimes to make it through only the next five minutes!
I forgot you Da started this thread, Siobhan. When I got pinged back to it and saw it was his post, it brought tears to my eyes.
You have his wisdom.
Thank you.
One more request: PLEASE pray specifically for Father Foster. He is a dear friend and a courageous priest. But this pressure over the last decade has worn him down to the point that he would almost welcome having his faculties removed. His dad died two years ago.
His pastor made him use up all his sick days and vacation days to be at his side. The bishop put him in a church almost the farthest away from his home in the diocese. He requested a closer post to be closer to his dad during his illness. The bishop has done this for his favored priests. He refused with Father Jim.
His pastor has persecuted him too relentlessly. This is Fr Jim's year to be transferred. Pray for him that he perseveres! Please.
51 posted on 6/30/02 5:00 PM Pacific by Polycarp
A Prayer for PriestsTHE PRIESTHOOD IS A MASTERPIECE OF CHRIST'S DIVINE LOVE, WISDOM AND POWER
Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord, Keep them, for they are Thine - Thy priests whose lives burn out before Thy consecrated shrine.Keep them, for they are in the world. Though from the world apart; When earthly pleasures tempt, allure, - Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them, and comfort them in hours Of lonliness and pain, When all their life of sacrifice For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and O remember, Lord, They have no one but Thee, Yet they have only human hearts, With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host, That daily they caress; Their every thought and word and deed, Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.
"Jesus, Mary, I Love You, Save Souls"
And prayer bump for the repose of History Matters, and the comfort of Siobhan and her family.
My sincere condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father. I became active here only after his death, but I truly enjoyed reading his posts. He was one of the really nice guys and a very knowledgeable Catholic whose personality came through his writing.
May God bless and guide you.
One in particular, shared with me after a 6:30 AM daily Mass that so many God fearing and truly-doing-the-will-of-God priests are hurting over the reception they are receiving when out in public.
(During the petitions in the Mass I voiced "For an increase in priestly vocations, Lord hear our prayer.) This is something we all could be doing when we attend daily Mass.
We still need to pray for our priests and for an increase in VOCATIONS to the priesthood and the consecrated and religious life.
Prayer bump.
Gospel
Mt 9:32-38
A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus,
and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke.
The crowds were amazed and said,
"Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel."
But the Pharisees said,
"He drives out demons by the prince of demons."
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues,
proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom,
and curing every disease and illness.
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then he said to his disciples,
"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest."
We pray earnestly and unceasingly for an increase in priestly vocations of those with a pure heart who will labor in your vinyeard, the Roman Catholic Church,
We pray to the Lord,
Lord, hear our prayer.
So true today, also, as the modern Pharisees, the American society in general and the media, cast scorn on all priests, even those with a pure heart and soul who are doing the work of the Lord. These modern Pharisees judge ALL priests 'guilty by association' because of a few rotten apples in the barrel.
We pray for all those priests who are doing Your will here on earth, dear Jesus; walk with them each day and make their burdens lighter. We also ask this in a tone of thanksgiving for the loyal priests and bishops in America today. Amen
Ooops that should have said 'Today's Gospel'. Oh, well, I know you got the point. LOL!
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