Staci Gulino

Praying for Our Priests & Religious – The Second Day of the Novena

by Staci Gulino

Did you know that we have a holy responsibility to pray for priests and religious?

Why do priests need our prayers?  Aren’t they holy enough?  Holier than I?  For more reasons than can be illuminated here, our priests, seminarians, deacons, and indeed all religious are a direct target of the evil one!  Their vocational call as servant of the Lord – and in particular our priests who confect the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Holy Eucharist at each mass – places them in the direct line of fire from the evil one whose only aim is to destroy, decimate, and cause every soul he can to fall.  Our prayers are absolutely necessary and a great gift to those who serve the Lord – and to each one of His people (us!) – so let’s together cover them in prayers for protection in the battle against powers and principalities.

As we continue our Novena today which focuses on prayer for priests and religious, I invite you take a look at a couple of wonderful books that can illuminate just what this battle is, and the spiritual protection, mercy and and love that we as lay persons can offer those who serve the Lord and each one of us.

Meanwhile, let’s you and I continue our Novena today, offering our prayers, love, and mercy for Priests and Religious.

I invite you to sing the prayer with the video above, or you may always simply recite the prayers as well:)

The Second Day

Jesus said: “Today, bring Me the souls of priests and religious and immerse them in My unfathomable Mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.” Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase (Your) grace in us that we may perform worthy works of mercy so that all who watch us may praise the Father of Mercy who is in Heaven. Eternal Father, cast Your merciful glance upon the company (of chose ones) in Your vineyard—upon the souls of priest and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless Mercy, for ages without end. Amen.

Opening Prayers

First, recite the Daily Intention for each of the nine days of the novena (different one each day), and certainly consider adding your own as well for the intentions that you desire to bring to the Heart of Jesus.

Make the sign of the cross, saying “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

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.

 (NOTE:  See what Christ instructed St. Faustina about this next portion of this prayer – such powerful intercession for those we are interceding for conversion.  Christ says: “If you say this prayer, with a contrite heart and with faith, on behalf of some sinner I will give that soul the grace of conversion”.)

“O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus

as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus

as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus

as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!”

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Repeat this sequence on each decade as follows:

(On the “Our Father” beads, pray…)

“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 Beads of Each Decade, pray…)

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

Holy God

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,

have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,

have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,

have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Final 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.

John Paul II says “Right from the beginning of my ministry in St. Peter’s See in Rome, I consider this message [of Divine Mercy] my special task. Providence has assigned it to me in the present situation of man, the Church and the world. It could be said that precisely this situation assigned that message to me as my task before God.” (November 22, 1981, Shrine of Merciful Love in Collevalenza, Italy)

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