# A Prayer for Priests
*2015-07-26*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne and shares a heartfelt prayer for priests, invoking Mary as the model and guide for clergy.

## Feast of Joachim and Anne

Good morning. This is Bill Young, and welcome to the Prayer and Lunch podcast. Today is Sunday, July 26th, the feast day of Mary’s parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne. Their devotion gave us a holy mother, and we honor them as we begin our reflection.

## Introducing the Prayer for Priests

I found a beautiful pamphlet at St. David’s Church that begins with a short invocation to Mary, Queen of the Clergy, asking that she be a model of faith, joy, and constant guide for priests until they reach heaven with the crown of jewels promised to them on the day of ordination.

## The Prayer

Oh Jesus, our great High Priest, hear my humble prayers on behalf of Your priests. Grant them deep faith, firm hope, and a burning love that will grow in their priestly lives. In their loneliness, be their companion; in their sorrows, give them strength; in their frustrations, remind them that through suffering the soul is purified, and show them that they are needed by the Church, by souls, and for the work of redemption.

All‑loving Mother Mary, Mother of priests, take to your heart those who are about to receive holy ordination. By the power they have received to carry out the work of Christ in the world, be their comfort, joy, and strength, and especially help them to live and uphold the ideal of celibacy. Amen.

## Closing Thoughts

The prayer was written by the late John J. Conno, Carabary of St. Louis. I’ll follow up with a rosary for priests in a future episode.

*May Mary, Queen of the Clergy, guide and sustain all priests in their holy ministry.*