Pray very much for the Pope, bishops, and priests. Since your baptism you have always prayed faithfully for them. Continue to pray very much…very much. – Our Lady of Akita to Sr. Agnes Sasagawa (July 6, 1973)
In these challenging times for our Church, it is more essential than ever for us, the lay members of the Mystical Body of Christ, to pray and offer sacrifices for our dedicated and holy priests. As more priestly scandals are revealed, our priests share in the pain. They need our unwavering support and love as they continue to administer the sacraments and perform their pastoral duties.
Last year, I launched a small initiative within my own parish on Staten Island as part of the Seven Sisters Apostolate. As the leader, or anchoress, of the Apostolate, I invited six other women from my parish to join me in praying for our pastor. The Seven Sisters Apostolate involves seven women, each dedicating one holy hour per week to pray for the pastor, ensuring a holy hour is offered every day of the year for him. There is a commitment prayer at the beginning of each year, which can be renewed annually for the pastor. If another group of seven women joins, a parochial vicar from the parish is then chosen to be prayed for with a weekly holy hour throughout the year.
Praying for priests is a special mission dear to me, and I believe it is a calling from God. Before starting this ministry at my parish, I initiated a Vianney Cenacle sponsored by the Foundation of Prayer for Priests, founded by Kathleen Beckman, author of Praying for Priests: An Urgent Call for the Salvation of Souls. This inspired me to begin the Seven Sisters Apostolate at my parish, as a Vianney Cenacle involves a group coming together to pray, specifically the Rosary, for priests.
I urge all readers to consider starting a Seven Sisters Apostolate, a Vianney Cenacle, or any other ministry in your parish or beyond that offers support, prayers, and sacrifices for our priests. A priest once remarked during a homily, “Priests desperately need your prayers because a demon hovers over every rectory.” I firmly believe his words. As members of the laity, we are called to offer prayers and sacrifices for our priests.
St. John Vianney once said: “When people want to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest; for when there is no priest, there is no sacrifice, and when there is no sacrifice, there is no religion.” Without priests, we lack the Eucharist, and without the Eucharist, the Church cannot stand. The Eucharist is the “source and summit” of our Christian life, with Christ at the heart of our Catholic faith. We cannot have Christ without the Church, as the union of the Bride and Bridegroom is inseparable.
Let us continue to support our devoted priests through prayer and encourage the growth of holy vocations to the priesthood. Below is one of my favorite prayers for priests by St. Thérèse 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 beautiful and
everlasting crown.
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
