For a beautiful booklet on how to say the Rosary, go to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops by clicking here .

Priestly Vocations Prayer (from the USCCB for the Year for Priests)

Dear Lord,we pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry.  We pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, "Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5).  May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary's most chaste spouse.  May the Blessed Mother's own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross.  May your priests be holy, filled with the fire of your love seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls.  Amen.  St. John Vianney, pray for us. 

A Novena to Pray for a Priest from Missionary of the Liturgy

This is a novena to offer as a prayer for any priest you know.  You can also pray it for all priests if you alter the prayers a bit.  It includes an intention for each day, a bible passage to read and a quote to ponder from the Vatican II document on the priesthood, Presbyterorum Ordinis .  Begin and end each day with the opening and closing prayer.

Opening Prayer 

Almighty God, you have given Father ______charge of your family not because he is worthy but because of your infinite love.  Help him to fulfill his priestly ministry under your loving rule by guilding the people entrusted to his care.  Grant this through Christ our Lord.  Amen. (from the Sacramentary)

Day 1  Called to be Configured to Christ the Priest 

Pray . . .that Father ______will continually grow in union with Christ and reflect to all the image of Him whose mysteries he celebrates.

Read . . . Phil 2:5-11

Ponder . . .So when priests unite themselves with the act of Christ, the Priest, they daily offer themselves completely to God, and by being nourished with Christ's Body they share in the charity of him who gives himself as food to the faithful. (#13)

 Day 2  Called to Ministers of the Sacraments

Pray . . .that Father _____ will be generous in being a minister of the sacraments, inspiring in his people a deep love and appreciation for the sacraments that leads them to receive them often.

Read . . . Lk 22:-19-20   Jn 20:22-23

Ponder . . . Priests, as ministers of the sacred mysteries, act in a special way in the person of Christ . . . This is why they are invited to imitate what they handle . . .as they celebrate the mystery of the Lord's death. (#14)

Day 3  Called to be Teacher of the Word of God 

Pray . . .that Father ______ will faithfully teach the Word of God by his actions as well as his words, speaking the truth boldly but lovingly and leading his flock to put the Gospel into practice.

Read . . . 2 Tim 4:1-5

Ponder . . . In every case their role is to teach, not their own wisdom, but the Word of God and to issue an urgent invitation to all to conversion and to holiness . . . by an application of the eternal truth of the Gospel to the concrete circumstances of everyday life. (#4)

Day 4  Called to be a Shepherd 

Pray . . . that Father _____ will lead his people selflessly as a true shepherd, guiding them in the way of Christ and protecting them frm spiritual danger.

Read . . . John 10: 11-16

Ponder . . . While priests govern and shepherd the People of God they are encouraged by the love of the Good Shepherd to give their lives for their sheep. (#13)

Day 5  Called to Celibacy 

Pray . . .that Father _____ will embrace his vow of celibacy as a means of imitating Christ, growing in union with God and dedicating himself to the task entrusted to him.

Read . . . 1 Cor 7:32-35

Ponder . . . This council exhorts all priests to hold fast to celibacy with courage and enthusiasm, and to persevere faithfully in it, appreciate that gracious gift that has been given to them by the Father and is so clearly extolled by the Lord. (#16)

Day 6  Called to be United with the Bishop 

Pray . . . that Father _____ will be obedient to his bishop and uphold the teachings of the Church.

Read . . .  1 Thes 5:12-13

Ponder . . . No priest is sufficiently equipped to carry out his own mission alone . . .He can only do so by joining forces with other priests, under the leadership of those who are rulers of the Church.  Priests should keep in mind the fullness of the sacrament of order which bishops enjoy and should reverence in their persons the authority of Christ the supreme pastor. (#7)

Day 7  Called to be United with All Priests 

Pray . . . that Father ________ will feel the support and love of his fellow priests and offer his friendship and help to them as well.

Read . . . Rom 12:3-17

Ponder . . . Even though they may be assigned different duties, yet they fulfill the one priestly service for the people.  Indeed all priests are sent to cooperate in the same work. (#8)

Day 8  Called to Be United With the Laity 

Pray . . . that Father _____ will lead the laity to holiness by his words and example and that he will receive love, help and support from them in return.

Read . . . Jn 17:20-23

Ponder . . . Priests should united their efforts with those of the lay faithful . . . Priests are to be sincere in their appreciateion and promotion of lay people's dignity and of the special role the laity have to play in the Church's mission. (#9)

Day 9  Called to Holiness 

Pray . . . that Father _____ will strive to grow in holiness being ever open to the will of God and faithful to a life of prayer.

Read . . . 1 Thes 5:23-24, 1 Pt 2:1-5

Ponder . . . God ordinarily prefers to show his wonders through those men who are more submissive to the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit and who, because of their union with Christ and holiness of life are able to say with St. Paul, "It is not I who live, but Christ in me." (#12)

Closing Prayer 

All powerful and ever-living God, every virtue has its source in you and reaches perfection under your guidance.  By sharing in the mystery of the Eucharist, help Father _____ to do what is right and to preach what is true that by his teaching and living he may help your faithful people grow in the knowledge of your love.  Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (from the Sacramentary)