# Praying for Priests on the Feast of St. John Vianney
*2016-09-29*

> Bill Young reflects on the life of St. John Vianney and leads a heartfelt prayer asking for God’s protection and grace for all priests.

## St. John Vianney – A Saint of Vision

Good afternoon, I’m Bill Young, and welcome to Prayer & Lunch. Today is Thursday, August 4th, the feast day of St. John Vianney. He lived from 1786 to 1859 and, unlike many saints, was not born into privilege. He had very limited formal education and struggled to learn Latin, eventually hiring a private tutor to master it. Despite those obstacles, he became a priest, first a very strong one and later a beloved pastor. In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI declared St. John Vianney the patron of all priests.

## Prayer for Priests

Let us now pray, invoking St. John Vianney, for all priests:

Almighty and eternal God, look upon the faithful of your Son, your High Priest. In your love, have mercy on our ministries. Merciful God, remember that priests are weak and fragile creatures. Keep alive in them the fire of your love. Unite them to you so that the enemy may not prevail against them, and that they may never be unworthy of their sacred calling.

Lord Jesus, I pray for your faithful and devoted pastors—those near and those far on missions, those suffering solitude, the young, the old, the ill, and the dying. I especially commend the priests who baptized me, absolved my sins, celebrated Mass for me, and guided me in my faith. Keep them close to your heart and grant them great graces in this life and the life to come. Amen.

## Personal Blessing

May God bless all priests. I especially bless my pastor, Father Jeff, and Father Steve, and I ask that the Holy Angels protect every priest, especially missionary priests, as they lead us to Christ.

*May we always pray for the spiritual strength and protection of those called to serve as priests.*