CHAPLETS FOR PRAYING FOR PRIESTS

Each individual part of the prayer lends itself well to prayerful repetition. A very busy person, who has a desire to spiritually support priests, could make a habit of repeating these prayers (or a favorite one of them) throughout the day, even when it is not possible to pray the entire chaplet or to keep count on rosary beads. The prayer time possibilities are as numerous as an individual’s ingenuity: while driving, doing laundry, while doing dishes, before meals, after meals, on awakening in the morning, before bedtime, before Mass, after Mass, after Rosary decades, etc.

Since we are supposed to “pray always”, why not let it be for priests during this period where a lot of temptations and the devil’s traps are waging their combat on them! What IS important is the lifting up of our  minds  and hearts to God in supplication for our priests. A  time  set  aside  for  personal  daily prayer is very important, but why waste  the  other  numerous  opportunities  for turning to God as we go about our daily duties? If you have trouble remembering to pray in this way, ask the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother to remind you. You might be surprised at how often you are reminded… an indication of God’s will for you. Here are some chaplets you we can use alongside the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.

THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET

Optional Opening Prayers

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

Begin with the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles Creed.

Then, on the large bead before each decade:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those  of the whole world.

On the ten small beads of each decade, say:

For the sake of His sorrowful   Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Conclude with (Say 3 Times): Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy  Immortal  One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Optional Closing Prayer: Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion – inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

THE CHAPLET OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS FOR PRIESTS

NB: Our Blessed Lord revealed to Sr. Mary of St. Peter, a Carmelite nun that nothing can be refused us when we offer His Holy Face disfigured as it was in His Passion. It   is a hidden treasure to call upon God’s mercy upon us. Since it is such a treasure, we can also use this precious weapon to pray for the sanctification of our priests.

Begin: Our Father x1, Glory be x3, Hail Mary x3

Big Bead:

Eternal Father, for the sanctification of priests, I offer You the Holy Face of  Your dearly beloved Son in whom You are well-pleased, betrayed by  Judas’  kiss,  covered  with  Blood,  sweat, dust, wounds, tears, spittle and a painful crown of thorns, looking like a leper.

Then, 10 decades: Sweet Jesus, cast your gaze upon your priests as You did to St. Peter and they will be saved.

Conclude:

O Holy Mary, Mother Most Pure, Lily of the heavenly delights, You cleaned the Wounded Face of Your Dearly Beloved Son when He was handed in your venerable arms at the Foot of the Cross with deep sorrow and love, mercifully wipe off every impurity from priests so that they may be Holy Living Images of Your Son in the world disfigured by sin. Amen.

For the Pope: 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be…

THE CHAPLET OF THE TEARS OF ST. PETER

On the three first beads, pray:

Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be…,

On the big bead:
 Eternal Father, I  offer  Thee  the  contrite  tears  of  St. Peter which he shed after  denying Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, for  the conversion  of  priests who are living in mortal sin.

On the 10 small beads: St. Peter, give your tears of contrition to all priests living in sin.

Conclude:Heavenly Father, Your Son pardoned St. Peter because of his contrite tears after denying Him and he retained the leadership of all the Apostles. We beg you through his tears as the Rock and foundation of Your Church, to pardon our fathers who have gone astray and bring them back with contrite hearts to lead your

sheep with a spirit of humility, chastity, poverty, obedience, self-sacrifice and zeal for the salvation of souls entrusted to them. St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, pray for priests.

Chaplet for Priests (By Father Mark Kirby)

At the beginning of each decade:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Thy Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb without blemish or spot (1 Peter 1:18) in reparation for my sins and for the sins of all priests.

On the decades: By Thy Precious Blood, O Jesus, purify and sanctify Thy priests.

At the conclusion of each decade: O Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named, (Ephesians 3:14) have mercy on all priests, and wash them in the Blood of the Lamb.

NB: The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady can also be very instrumental in praying for our priests. It is highly encouraged to be used for praying for priests.