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Lord Jesus, we pray to you
for the Catholic priesthood.
Give us more priests, but
most especially we ask you
to give us holy priests.
Messengers of a truth that is
all-encompassing and eternal, holy priests
who know how to offer this truth
to the people of their own time and place.
Holy men for today, priests
firmly rooted in the tradition,
yet imbued with the spirit of this age.
They have undertaken a mission
in your name, Lord.
May the reflection of your power
in them always make it clear
that they are your witnesses.
Grant that they may conform their
lives to the paschal mystery
that they celebrate each day
in the Eucharist.
May they sense in this mystery the
anxious hunger of the world
and of their own brothers
and sisters for salvation.
May they know, despite this hunger,
how to respect the spiritual freedom of others;
for it is your word which has given
the world a taste for this freedom.
May they understand and speak
the language of their own time.
And may they be careful never to compromise,
with opinions that come and go,
the imperishable newness of your Gospel.
May they always keep through the
dark wintry night of the soul
an obstinate hope for the springtime to come.
And when they meet those who persecute you,
may they always remember the road to Damascus
and the hidden ways of your providence.
Amen
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