Pray for priests and their spiritual health during Holy Week

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.

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:

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.