Rosary for Priests

JOYFUL MYSTERIES

The Annunciation: The Angel Gabriel announces to Mary, a virgin, that she will become the Mother of God, Word made Flesh. For all centuries to come, Jesus will become flesh in the Holy Eucharist to nourish us in a most intimate union with Him. We pray for all priests who daily, through the words of the consecration at Mass, and through Holy Communion, bring us the Body and Blood of Christ. We pray for all future priests now being formed in the wombs of their mothers, that they may be safe from physical and spiritual harm, and come to Ordination as God intends. We pray for all future generations of priests. We pray also that priests may treasure the gift of celibacy.

The Visitation: Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who recognizes Mary as the living tabernacle for their Divine Lord. We pray especially for priests who bring Holy Communion to the sick, the shut-ins, and Viaticum to the dying. We pray for all the priests who minister to the sick in other ways, counsel, comfort, and console them.

The Nativity of Jesus: Jesus is born in Bethlehem The angels announce His birth; kings and shepherds come to adore Him. We pray that all seminarians grow in knowledge and love of God to become holy priests. We pray especially for those who will be ordained soon, that they may remain faithful all their lives to the sublime privilege of being “other Christs” among us. We pray that everyone will come to value the Eucharistic Feast and the Priesthood as among God’s greatest gifts to us. We pray that every priest will consider himself a member of the Holy Family, a true son of Mary and Joseph, and a brother-priest of Jesus, the great High Priests.

The Presentation in the Temple: Mary and Joseph, in obedience to the Law, bring Jesus to the temple to be dedicated to God. Simeon expresses his gratitude to God for revealing the Messiah to him before he dies. We thank God for all priests who, like Simeon, have given us decades of faithful service. We pray that they may be rewarded for their generosity and self-sacrifice. We pray also for all priests whose hearts are pierced by loneliness, depression, and rejection.

Finding Jesus in the Temple: Jesus is found among the teachers in the temple; He returns home and is obedient to Mary and Joseph. We pray that priests will always be found going about their Father’s business, and will be obedient to the teaching magisterium of the Church, our Holy Father and the bishops in communion with him. We pray for all young priests that the love and dedication they experience in the first years of their priesthood may increase with time. We pray for all priests who teach the Faith to children and adults.

LUMINOUS MYSTERIES

Baptism of Jesus: And when Jesus was baptized, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on Him, and lo, a voice from heaven saying, “This is My beloved son with whom I Am well pleased.” We pray for the perseverance of all priests who have received the special mark of participation in the ministerial priesthood in virtue, their own baptism, and the Sacrament of Holy Orders. We Pray that priests will be open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit and hear the words of the Heavenly Father: “This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.” as applied to their priestly vocation.

Wedding Feast at Cana: “His Mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them to the brim.” We Pray that all priests embrace Mary as their Mother and remember Her Words of Wisdom, “Do whatever He tells you.” We pray that all priests’ hearts be on fire so that the Word and Glory of God come alive to all who hear them. We pray that all priests who witness the Sacrament of Matrimony will recommend to the newly-weds to seek the intercession of our Mother Mary when they need help. We pray that all priests will see themselves as espoused to the Holy Church as Jesus, the bridegroom, is related to the Church, His bride.

Proclamation of the Kingdom and Call to Repentance: “And preach as you go saying, ‘The Kingdom of the heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay, give without pay.’” We pray that all priests, as ambassadors of Christ, will have the courage to preach the fullness of truth and the need to repent, since the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. We pray for an increase of vacations to the missionary priesthood to bring the Gospel message to the needy of the world; for the harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. We pray for all priests who hear Confessions and speak about evil and sin in the world. We pray that all priests become the Light that shines in the darkness to boldly proclaim, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

The Transfiguration of Our Lord: “A voice came out of a cloud saying, ‘This is my Son.. My chosen; listen to Him!’” We pray that all priests will meditate on the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in His Transfiguration and be strengthened to follow Him faithfully by carrying their Crosses in difficult times. We pray that priests will reflect the love and mercy of Christ in the performance of their duties “In Persona Christi”; especially in the administration of the seven sacraments. We pray for humble, obedient priests who seek not the things of this world, but the splendors of Heaven. We pray for all priests who have lost hope and are discouraged. We pray for all priests who have been wrongly accused.

Institution of the Eucharist: “And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My Body which is given up for you.’ And likewise the cup after supper saying, ‘This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My Blood.’” We pray that all priests will recognize and appreciate the awesome power they received in their priestly ordination; to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ in the Mass and to absolve sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We pray that priests will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with deep faith and reverence, especially when they receive and distribute the Eucharist, having complete trust in His real presence and Divine Mercy. We pray for many more priests, for through their holy hands, they bring us Jesus. We pray for all priests who venerate and defend the Holy Eucharist. We pray for all priests who through sickness or imprisonment are unable to receive Our Blessed Lord.

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

The Agony in the Garden: The Apostles fall asleep; Jesus sweats blood at the thought of His coming passion and death; angels come to comfort Him. We pray that all priests who are suffering and on the way to Calvary may be comforted by God’s presence; those who have betrayed or denied the Faith through weakness may repent and return to the warmth of God’s love. We pray that all priests may live only to do Our Father’s will, as Jesus always did.

Jesus is Scourged: Jesus is cruelly scourged and beaten by the soldiers. We pray for priests who are persecuted, physically or mentally abused; those who are imprisoned or prevented from offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or receiving Holy Communion. We pray for priests living under Communist oppression.

Jesus is Crowned with Thorns: Jesus is mocked as king and His precious Head is cruelly pierced by thorns. We pray for priests who suffer from defending authentic Catholic doctrine. We pray that all Bishops will uphold the true teachings of the Catholic Church and resist temptations to compromise doctrine in face of cultural and social pressures.

Jesus Carries His Cross: Bruised, bleeding, and exhausted, Jesus is forced to drag Himself and His cross up the hill of Calvary. We pray for all priests with heavy crosses; those who are weak, lonely, or have fallen from God’s grace in some way. We pray for the Holy Father, who perhaps has the heaviest of crosses, the widespread persecution and abandonment of the Church from within and without.

Jesus Dies on the Cross: Jesus sheds His last drops of Precious Blood to redeem us from sin and death. We pray for all priests who are in their last agony and those who will die today. We pray for those who thirst for the salvation of souls. We pray that the crucifixion of their wills may accomplish God’s designs for the salvation of the whole world. We pray that priests may take Mary into their hearts, as St. John the Apostle, one of the first priests who took Mary into his home.

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

The Resurrection: Jesus arises from the dead and appears to the Apostles. At times, priests may suffer from depression and despair that plague them when they see so little from their labors. We pray that priests will remember: the Crucifixion is followed by the Resurrection; darkness is always followed by Light. We pray that all priests may share the joy of the Risen Christ.

The Ascension: Jesus instructs His Apostles and returns to His Father in Heaven. We pray that priests may carry out Jesus’ instructions to evangelize the whole world, instructing and baptizing countless souls. We pray for missionaries who live lives of utter poverty and deprivation to bring the Gospel to all the people.

The Descent of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Ghost comes down upon the Apostles, who are gathered with Mary. We pray that priests may be open to the graces of the Holy Spirit to strengthen them for the task of bringing souls to God and God to souls. We pray that they may be on fire to convert the most hardened sinners, and to bring God’s love to the whole world.

The Assumption: Mary is taken, body and soul, to Heaven. While she was on earth, she loved and prayed for the Apostles, the first priests. We pray that priests will be devoted to Mary and find in Her the love and comfort of a mother, the most powerful intercession of our greatest Saint, and the surest refuge against Satan and his cohorts who seek destruction of priests and the priesthood.

The Coronation: Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and earth; she is rewarded for her faithfulness to God. We pray that Mary, Queen of the Clergy, will be their model of faith and joy, and constant guide until they reach Heaven where a crown, jeweled with the many souls entrusted to them on the day of Ordination, will be their reward for faithful and loving service.