Priests under siege

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Matt241

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Hi. During Mass on Sunday, my parish priest said that he had been the recipient of less than charitable letters about his management of the parish (which, incidentally, is a total fabrication). He’s received many of these in the past, and as far as I can tell, those views are in the great minority. I spoke to him after mass in the sacristy about them, because you could tell they’re distressing to receive, and I said that I’m disappointed that he’s begun to receive those types of letters again.

I was also disappointed to hear that, contrary to unity and giving our priests the support they dearly need in their ministry, some people are actively working to undermine them.

Please, pray for our priests. Pray for greater unity in parishes and in congregations.
 
Matt241 said:
Hi. During Mass on Sunday, my parish priest said that he had been the recipient of less than charitable letters about his management of the parish (which, incidentally, is a total fabrication). He’s received many of these in the past, and as far as I can tell, those views are in the great minority. I spoke to him after mass in the sacristy about them, because you could tell they’re distressing to receive, and I said that I’m disappointed that he’s begun to receive those types of letters again.

I was also disappointed to hear that, contrary to unity and giving our priests the support they dearly need in their ministry, some people are actively working to undermine them.

Please, pray for our priests. Pray for greater unity in parishes and in congregations.
Click to expand...
Absolutely Matt241. Our clergy is under attack constantly. I used to think these attacks were from Christian churches and atheists only but am now distressed to hear they are coming from our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church. At the very least, you’d expect people would approach the priest in private to discuss their concerns rather than putting it in a letter, email, or text. Very disturbing how little parishioners value their priests and the very difficult jobs they have.
 
Amen.
Working in a parish, you wouldn’t believe the things that people say to them, (and also behind their backs.)

Praying for all priests and asking Our Lady to keep them close to her Immaculate heart.
 
Remembering priests everywhere in my daily prayers, as well as those who attack them in various ways. God bless. This situation sounds all too familiar to me. :sad_yes:
 
Praying for your priest and all priests.

Memorare
REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
 
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†
 
I suggest you pray for his ATTITUDE to these criticizing letters
to change, he should have borne the negativity instead of publicizing
them! See Romans 15:3, it is better for those detractors to complain
than leave his church! It is only good customer service to field ALL
complaints and adjust to suite the customer, “the customer is always
right!”. Of course, I am hyperbolizing, but you know what I’m getting at,
ACCOMMODATE their complaints and try to please them the best
way possible.

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion
inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase your mercy in us,
that IN THE DIFFICULT moments in life, we may not despair nor
become despondent, but with great confidence, SUBMIT to your
holy will, which is LOVE and MERCY itself. Amen.
 
We have to remember that prests have feelings, too. They have few people that they can vent to but some days it seems that every parishioner feels that s/he has a right to say whatever comes to their mind.

I have felt the power struggles in church before and it is very uncomfortable and, quite frankly, uninviting. I hope these parishioners schedule a meeting with your pastor to work through this.
 
pianistclare said:
Amen.
Working in a parish, you wouldn’t believe the things that people say to them, (and also behind their backs.)

Praying for all priests and asking Our Lady to keep them close to her Immaculate heart.
Click to expand...
Amen! Priests need our prayers as they are targets for the evil one. Recently a friend of mine who has monthly prayer times, at her home,(Scriptural Rosary) had a very special day for prayer for priests. I also have a weekly Scriptural Rosary at my home, along with other prayers, every week. We too, pray special prayers for priests every week.

The Lord uses all of us to be other Christs, and our priests bring us Our Lord in the Eucharist, and the graces in the other sacraments.
 
***Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of our death
Amen.

:crossrc:***
 
Prayer for Our Priests
Heavenly Father,
I come to pray to you for our priests:
our priests working in parishes or residence of retired people,
our priests teaching at the seminary or at the university,
our priests working in the diocesan offices,
our priests in foreign missions,
our religious priests.

Heavenly Father,
I glorify your holy name,
I praise you,
I thank you
for these men whom you have given us as spiritual leaders,
these men responsible for our Christian communities, our parish activities.

Heavenly Father,
I know that, just like us, they have their questions, their doubts, their hesitations.
They say before their ordination and again after it:
“Do I really have this vocation?”
“Am I truly at the right place?”
“Will I be able to preach, for I am shy?”
“Shall I be able to pray my divine office with the load of activities?”
“Am I not following a human ambition?”
Be with them, Father, support them, give them your strength, your Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father,our priests say they are unworthy of your calling.
And they are right, for no one is worthy of it.
Yet you have chosen them for the common good.
Inspire them, calm their hesitations, encourage them.
Let them know that they can always count on you,
that your love surrounds them,
that you are never far from them.

Heavenly Father, our priests sometimes find their tasks heavy.
They may get discouraged.
They wonder if they can respond to all the demands we ask from them.
Be yourself their strength, their inspiration, their assurance.
Give them a prayerful heart for they need this intimacy with you, for themselves and for others.

Heavenly Father, our priests are not angels.
Some of them have even their tough sides.
All of them have times of fatigue, of impatience, their dark hours.
Be yourself their light.
May your Holy Word lead them day by day.
Speak to them in their meditations and their moments of reflection.

Heavenly Father, our priests sometimes suffer of solitude.
They feel alone in their ministry.
It may seem to them that they can hardly endure this heavy weight on their shoulders.
May the offering of our weekly day and our prayers –
to which we have committed ourselves as petals of Daisies –
relieve and help them somewhat.
But may your grace and strength especially be their consolation. Their source of strength, their support anda their joy.

Thank you, heavenly Father, for these men who are our priests.
May our prayers accompany them also every day.
Hear our prayers, hear their prayers.
May we always give you thanks for these spiritual leaders whom you send us.
Amen.

(Francis de Ruijte, April 4, 2003, 39th anniversary of his ordination; translated by the author, April 14, 2003)
 
Amen.

I pray for those priests who because of their vows
in the sacrament of Holy Orders have COMMITTED
themselves to their parishes and feel the sting of
rejection/criticism all for the love of their Lord and
His flock, may they have the encouragement to
persevere and continue to carry their Cross IN THE
NAME of Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep!

Our Father, who is in heaven,
Your name be held holy,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth as it in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses as
we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
 
Prayer for Priests by St. Therese of Lisieux

O Jesus, eternal Priest,

Keep your priests within the shelter of Your
Sacred Heart, where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands, which
daily touch Your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with
Your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the
priesthood.

Let Your holy love surround them and
shield them from the world’s contagion.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit and
may the souls to whom they minister be
their joy and consolation here and in
heaven their everlasting crown.

Amen.

O Mary, Queen of the Clergy, …Pray for us!
 
Praying for our priests and deacons.
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls.

Amen.
 
St. Thérèse’s Prayer for Priests

O Holy Father, may the torrents of love flowing from the sacred wounds of your divine Son bring forth priests like unto the beloved disciple John who stood at the foot of the cross; priests, who as a pledge of your own most tender love will lovingly give your divine Son to the souls of men.

May your priests be faithful guardians of your Church, as John was of Mary, whom he received into his house. Taught by this loving Mother who suffered so much on Calvary, may they display a mother’s care and thoughtfulness towards your children. May they teach souls to enter into close union with you through Mary who, as the Gate of Heaven, is specially the guardian of the treasures of your divine Heart.

Give us priests who are on fire, and who are true children of Mary, priests who will give Jesus to souls with the same tenderness and care with which Mary carried the Little Child of Bethlehem.

Mother of sorrows and of love, out of compassion for your beloved Son, open in our hearts deep wells of love, so that we may console Him and give Him a generation of priests formed in your school and having all the tender thoughtfulness of your own spotless love.

:signofcross:

​
 
Prayer for Priests

Praise to you,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
for in your infinite love
you care for your people
by the ministry of priests.

May their faithful service
bring lasting good to your Church
and great happiness to them.
Help them to do what is right,
that by their teaching and living
we may grow in the knowledge of your love.

As our priests instruct your people,
enlighten them with the wisdom
of Christ the Teacher.

As they preach your Word
and celebrate the sacraments,
sanctify them with the holiness
of Christ the High Priest.

As they face weakness,
suffering and discouragement,
strengthen them with the grace
of Christ the Life-Giver.

As they work for peace, unity
and healing in your Church,
uphold them with the courage
of Christ the Reconciler.

Giver of all good gifts,
make the ministry of our priests
a spiritual offering pleasing to you,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

+ Bishop John F. Kinney

:signofcross:

​
 
Saint Michael, the archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil, may God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do you, O’ Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into Hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.

Amen.

†

Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

†

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

†
 
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