Almighty and merciful Father,
you inspire and bring to fulfillment every good intention.
Guide your people in the way of salvation
and watch over those who shepherd your flock
and those who have left all things to follow you.
Raise up worthy ministers for your altars, ardent but gentle servants of the Gospel, and generous souls who renounce worldly power and profit to serve you and their brothers and sisters faithfully in the spirit of poverty and humility. Inspire our young men and women to respond to your call so that your Church might always rejoice in plentiful servants for your harvest. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord Jesus, you have chosen your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim your word and act in your name. For so great a gift to your Church, we give you praise and thanksgiving. We ask you to fill them with the fire of your love, that their ministry may reveal your presence in the Church. Since they are earthen vessels, we pray that your power shines out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed, in their doubts never despair, in temptation never be destroyed, and in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of your dying and rising. In times of weakness send them your Spirit, and help them to praise your Heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By your same Holy Spirit put your word on their lips and your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted. And may the gift of Mary, your Mother, to the disciple whom you loved, be your gift to every priest. Grant that she who formed you in her human image, may form them in your divine image, by the power of your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father, Amen.