I decided to go to Adoration to do my prayers - how much more effective could they be while I was face to face with the Highest Priest of all?! I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary and was amazed at how powerful the images are when you pray them for priests!
The Agony in the Garden - how often have our priests been alone in their faithfulness? Are you asleep like Peter, John and James?
The Scourging, whose fruit is purity - how often are priests tempted? Pray for them to stand strong!
The Crowning of Thorns, whose fruit is moral courage - our priests deserve our affirmation when they preach on the touchy topics of contraception, abortion and against gay "marriage."
The Carrying of the Cross - isn't that their lot nearly every day of their priestly life? Not that the priesthood is a burden - but certain "difficult" parishioners can be. Other parishioners are deeply loved and appreciated by the priest but they may be suffering from illness or another problem and because Father loves them it becomes his burden too.
The Crucifixion - how many parishioners have "crucifed" their priest? And not just the "bad" parishioners but the ones that just walk past Father and ignore him? How badly has the public maligned Catholic priests in general to the point that parents, even Catholic ones, hold their children back from a simple friendly pat on the head by Father? Christ bore persecution and forgave us. After particularly contrary parish council meetings I am always amazed that Father continues to reach out to his sharpest critics.
How TRULY like Jesus priests are! Pray for them!
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