For I know that this will result in deliverance for me through your prayers and support from the Spirit of Jesus Christ.'  Philip. 1:19 (NAB)
 
JOYFUL MYSTERIES
 By  John J. Cardinal Carberry

1.  THE ANNUNCIATION
The Angel Gabriel announces to Mary, a virgin, that she will become the mother of God, Word Made Flesh.  For all centuries to come, Jesus will become flesh in the Holy Eucharist to nourish us in a most intimate union with Him.
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We pray for all priests who daily through the words of the consecration at Mass, and through Holy Communion, bring us the Body and Blood of Christ.  We pray for all future priest now being formed in the wombs of their mothers, that they may be safe from physical harm, and come to Ordination as God intends.  We pray for all future generations of priests.  We pray also that priests may treasure the gift of celibacy.

2.  THE VISITATION
Mary visits her cousin, Elizabeth, who recognizes Mary as the living tabernacle for their Divine Lord.
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We pray especially for priests who bring Holy Communion to the sick, the shut?ins, and Viaticum to the dying.  We pray for all the priests who minister to the sick in other ways, counsel, comfort and console them.

3.  THE NATIVITY OF JESUS
Jesus is born in Bethlehem. The angels announce His birth;  kings and shepherds come to adore Him.
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We pray that all seminarians grow in knowledge and love of God to become holy priests.  We pray especially for those who will be ordained soon, that they remain faithful all their lives to the sublime privilege of being “other Christs” among us.  We pray that everyone will come to value the Eucharistic Feast and the Priesthood among God’s greatest gifts to us.  We pray that every priest will consider himself a member of the Holy Family, a true son of Mary and Joseph, and a brother?priest of Jesus, the great High Priest.

4.  THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE
Mary and Joseph, in obedience to the Law, bring Jesus to the temple to be dedicated to God.  Simeon expresses his gratitude to God for revealing the Messiah to him before he dies.
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We thank God for all priests who, like Simeon, have given us decades of faithful service.  We pray that they may be rewarded for their generosity and self?sacrifice.  We pray also for all priests whose
hearts are pierced by loneliness, depression and rejection.

5.  FINDING JESUS IN THE TEMPLE
Jesus is found among the teachers in the temple; He returns home and is obedient to Mary and Joseph.
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We pray that priests will always be found going about their Father’s business, and will be obedient to the teaching of the magisterium of the Church, our Holy Father and the bishops in communion with him.  We pray for all young priests that the love and dedication they experience in the first years of their priesthood may increase in the future.  We pray for all priests who teach the Faith to children and adults.o

~ ADOPT a PRIEST ~
DAILY PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
Have you ever considered adopting a brother Priest?
“Mary Help of Christians” has suggested the following:

 Ask Mary to assign him to you.   -   Love him like a real brother.
 Daily pray and sacrifice for him.   -   Shield him from temptation.
 Beg God that he avoid giving scandal.   -   Call him back to fervor.
  Become a saint that he may become one.
 Pray that Mary be a tender Mother to him and  find him good friends.
 Pray for more vocations to  follow after him.

~ SORROWFUL MYSTERIES ~

1.  THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN
The apostles fall asleep; Jesus sweats blood at the thought of His coming passion and death; angels come to comfort Him.
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We pray that all priests may live only to do our Father’s will, as Jesus always did.

2.  JESUS IS SCOURGED
Jesus is cruelly scourged and beaten by the soldiers.
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We pray for priests who are persecuted, physically or mentally abused; those who are imprisoned or prevented from offering the Holy sacrifice of the Mass or receiving communion.
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We pray for those priests living under Communist oppression.

3.  JESUS IS CROWNED WITH THORNS
Jesus is mocked as king and precious Head is cruelly pierced by thorns.
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We pray for priests who suffer for defending authentic Catholic doctrine.  We pray that all Bishops will uphold the true teachings of the Catholic Church and resist temptations to compromise doctrine in the face of cultural and social pressures.

4.  JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS
Bruised, bleeding and exhausted, Jesus is forced to drag himself and His cross up the hill of Calvary.
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We pray for all priests with heavy crosses; those who are weak, lonely, or have fallen from God’s grace in some way.  We pray for the Holy Father, who perhaps has the heaviest of crosses; the widespread persecution and abandonment of the Church from within and without.

5.  JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS
Jesus sheds his last drops of Precious Blood to redeem us from sin and death.
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We pray for all priests who are in their last agony and those who will die today.  We pray for those who thirst for the salvation of souls.  We pray that the crucifixion of their wills may accomplish God’s designs for the salvation of the whole world.
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We pray that priests may take Mary into their hearts, as St. John the Apostle, one of the first priests, took Mary into his home.

 
~ PRAYER I for PRIESTS ~
r O Jesus, our great High Priest, hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priests.  Give them a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of their priestly life.
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In their loneliness, comfort them.  In their sorrows, strengthen them.  In their frustrations, point out to them that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show them that they are needed by the Church; they are needed by souls; they are needed for the work of redemption.
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O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your sons who are close to you because of their priestly ordination and because of the power which they have received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs them so much.  Be their comfort, be their joy, be their strength, and especially help them to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.
 
~ GLORIOUS MYSTERIES ~

1.  THE RESURRECTION
Jesus arises from the dead and appears to the Apostles.
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We pray that priests will remember the Crucifixion is followed by the Resurrection: darkness is always followed by Light.  We pray that all priests may share the joy of the Risen Christ.

2.  THE ASCENSION
Jesus instructs His apostles and returns to His Father in Heaven.
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We pray that priests may carry out Jesus’ instructions to evangelize the whole world, instructing and baptizing countless souls.  We pray for missionaries who live lives of utter poverty and deprivation to bring the Gospel to all people.

3.  DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit comes upon the Apostles, who are gathered with Mary.
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We pray that priests may be open to the graces of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them for the task of bringing souls to God and God to souls. We pray that they may be on fire to convert the most hardened sinners and bring God’s love to the whole world.

4.  THE ASSUMPTION
Mary is taken, body and soul, to Heaven.  While she was on earth, she loved and prayed for the Apostles, the first priests.
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We pray that priests will be devoted to Mary and find in her the love and comfort of a mother, the most powerful intercession of our greatest saint, and the surest refuge against Satan and his cohorts who seek destruction of priests and the priesthood.

5.  THE CORONATION
Mary is  crowned Queen of Heaven and earth; she is  rewarded for her faithfulness to God.
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We pray that Mary, Queen of the Clergy, will be their model of faith and joy, and constant guide until they reach Heaven where a crown, jeweled with many souls entrusted to them on the day of Ordination, will be their reward for faithful and loving service.

~ PRAYER II  for PRIESTS ~
  Keep them, I pray Thee dear Lord.  -  Keep them, for they are thine ...
These priests whose lives burn out before  -  Thy consecrated shrine

Keep them, for they are in the world,  -  Though from the world apart.
When earthly treasurest tempt, allure,  -  Shelter them in Thy Heart

Keep them and comfort them  -  In hours of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice  -  For souls seems but in vain.

Keep them and remember, Lord  -  That they have none but Thee
They have only human hearts,  -  With human frailty.

Keepp them as spotless as the Host,  -  That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed,  -  May you deign, dear Lord.  To bless.

 ~ EMBRACE the CROSS ~
by John G. Elliot

 I am crucified with Christ - Therefore I no longer live
 Jesus Christ now lives in me
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 Embrace the cross  -  Where Jesus suffered
 Though it will cost  -  All you claim as yours
 Your sacrifice will seem small  -  Beside the treasure
 Eternity can’t measure  -  What Jesus holds in store
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 Embrace the love  -  The cross requires
 Cling to the One  -  Whose heart knew every pain
 Receive from Jesus  -  Fountains of compassion
 Only He can fashion  -  Your heart to move as His
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 Wondrous cross our desires rest in you  -  Lord Jesus make us bolder
 To face with courage the shame and disgrace  -  You bore upon Your shoulder
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 Embrace the life  -  That comes from dying
 Come trace the steps  -  The Savior walked for you
 An empty tomb  -  Concludes Golgotha’s sorrow
 Endure then till tomorrow  -  Your cross of suffering
 Embrace the cross  -  Embrace the cross
 The cross of Jesus