June 7, 2019 First Friday in Honor of the Sacred Heart

June 7, 2019
First Friday in Honor of the Sacred Heart
 
Circular 2019-11
RE: Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests
 
Reverend Fathers:
 
The Holy See has declared the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. This year 2019 it will be celebrated on June 28. After the Post Communion Prayer in all Masses on June 28, the Prayer to Mary Mother of Priests will be prayed together:
 
Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests,
Accept this title which we bestow on you to celebrate your motherhood 
and to contemplate with you the priesthood of your Son and of your sons, 
O holy Mother of God.
Mother of Christ, 
to the Messiah Priest you gave a body of flesh 
through the anointing of the Holy Spirit 
for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart; 
guard priests in your heart and in the Church, 
O Mother of the Savior.
Mother of Faith, 
you accompanied to the Temple the Son of Man, 
the fulfillment of the promises given to the fathers; 
give to the Father for his glory the priests of your Son, 
O Ark of the Covenant.
Mother of the Church, 
with the disciples in the Upper Room 
you prayed to the Spirit for the new People and their shepherds; 
obtain for the Order of Presbyters a fullness of gifts, 
O Queen of the Apostles.
Mother of Jesus Christ, 
you were with Him at the beginning of His life and of His mission, 
you sought the Master among the crowd, 
you stood beside Him when he was lifted up from the earth 
consumed as the one eternal sacrifice, 
and you had John close by you, your son; 
 
 

accept from the beginning those who have been called, 
protect their growth, accompany your sons in their life and in their ministry, 
O Mother of Priests.
 
Furthermore, the faithful led by the priests are advised to hold a Holy Hour before the exposed Blessed Sacrament at a time when most of the faithful can attend. The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy is to be prayed and before the Benediction the following will be prayed together:
 
Lord Jesus, you have chosen Your priests among us and have sent them to proclaim Your Word and to act in Your Name. 
For such a great gift to Your Church, we praise You and we thank You. 
We ask that you 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 may work in their weakness. 
In their afflictions do not let them be crushed; 
in their doubts, do not let them despair; 
in temptation, do not let them be destroyed. 
Inspire them through prayer to live each day 
the mystery of your death and Resurrection. 
In times of weakness, send them Your Spirit 
and help them to praise your heavenly Father and to pray for poor sinners. 
With the same Holy Spirit place your word on their lips and your love in their hearts, 
that they may bring the Good News to the poor and revive the broken-hearted. 
Lastly, 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 your human image, 
may form each priest in Your divine image, 
through the power of Your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. 
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
 
I trust that you understand the great need these days for the archdiocese to pray for us priests. To the Lord we turn and fix our gaze. To His Mother we run and beg her to embrace us in her loving arms.
 
Sincerely yours,
 
 
 
 
+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
  Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan