Pray for priests and their spiritual health during Holy Week

Holy Week is a special time of the year to recall the many sacrifices priests make and to pray for them, especially those who are struggling in their vocation.

While much emphasis in the Church is placed on praying for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, sometimes the spiritual and mental health of priests currently serving in parishes is forgotten.

Many priests are feeling fatigued from being overworked and are experiencing inner turmoil that they don’t share with their parishioners.

What is needed more now than ever is prayerful support of priests, that they may be faithful to their priestly promises.

Keep in mind that Scripture says the Devil is “prowling like a roaring lion.” Imagine how much he has his eyes on priests, who have the power to bring Christ to earth in every Mass, and cast out his work with every confession. The Devil wants to destroy the vocation of priests.

Holy Week and renewal of priestly promises

During Holy Week, or sometime during Lent, the local bishop will invite all priests in the diocese to celebrate the Chrism Mass.

Holy oils are blessed during that Mass, but another important aspect of it is the renewal of priestly promises.

The bishop will address the following questions to the priests:

Beloved sons, on the anniversary of that day when Christ our Lord conferred his priesthood on his apostles and on us, are you resolved to renew, in the presence of your Bishop and God’s holy people, the promises you once made?

Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him, denying yourselves and confirming those promises about sacred duties towards Christ’s Church which, prompted by love of him, you willingly and joyfully pledged on the day of your priestly ordination?

Are you resolved to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist and the other liturgical rites and to discharge faithfully the sacred office of teaching, following Christ the head and shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved only by zeal for souls?

Our duty

As part of the lay faithful, it is our duty to pray for priests, that they may live up to, and daily renew their priestly promises.

The important part of all this is to remember that we don’t only need “more” priests, but we need happy and holy priests.

One happy and holy priest can more effectively minister to a parish than a dozen priests who are not. We need to support all priests with our prayers as well as our kind and loving presence.