The Priesthood (from The Pieta Prayerbook)

A reader has reminded us of this, and it is important enough to post separately today. I have The Pieta, and have tried to remember it.

It can be found here, online. It is under the title The Priesthood (number 36 on the left column).

God bless!

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord,      Keep them, for they are Thine -

Thy priests whose lives burn out before      Thy consecrated shrine.

Keep them, for they are in the world,      Though from the world apart;

When earthly pleasures tempt, allure, -      Shelter them in Thy heart.

Keep them, and comfort them in hours      Of loneliness and pain,

When all their life of sacrifice      For souls seems but in vain.

Keep them, and O remember, Lord,      They have no one but Thee,

Yet they have only human hearts,      With human frailty.

Keep them as spotless as the Host.      That daily they caress;

Their every thought and word and deed,      Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.

Imprimatur:  +D. Card. Dougherty, Arch. of Philadelphia

Our Father Hail Mary Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for them.

---

THE PRIESTHOOD IS A MASTERPIECE OF
CHRIST'S DIVINE LOVE, WISDOM AND POWER

NEVER ATTACK A PRIEST

"Jesus, Mary, I love You, Save Souls."

CRITICISM OF PRIESTS

"One should NEVER attack a priest, even when he's in error, rather one should pray and do penance that I'll grant him My grace again. He alone fully represents Me, even when he doesn't live after My example!"  (page 29, Mutter Vogel's Worldwide Love, St. Grignion Publishing House, Altoting, South Germany (29. 6. 1929)).

When a Priest falls we should extend him a helping hand THROUGH PRAYER AND NOT THROUGH ATTACKS!  "I myself will be his judge, NO ONE BUT I!"  "Whoever voices judgment over a priest has voiced it over Me; child, never let a Priest be attacked, take up his defense."  (Feast of Christ the King 1937)  "Child, Never judge your confessor, rather pray much for him and offer every Thursday, through the hands of My blessed Mother, Holy Communion (for Him) (18.6. 1939)&nsp; "Never again accept an out-of-the-way word about a Priest, and speak no unkind word (about them) EVEN IF IT WERE TRUE!  Every Priest is My Vicar and My heart will be sickened and insulted because of it! If you hear a judgment (against a Priest) pray a Hail Mary." (28. 6. 1939)

"If you see a Priest who celebrates the Holy Mass unworthily then say nothing about him, rather tell it to Me alone! I stand beside him on the altar!"  "Oh pray much for My priests, that they'll love purity above all, that they'll celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with pure hands and heart. Certainly the Holy Sacrifice is one and the same even when it is celebrated by an unworthy priest, but the graces called down upon the people is not the same!" (28. 2. 1938)

Mary. Queen of the Clergy, pray for them.