Year for Priests - St. Therese and Priests

YEAR FOR PRIESTS

Faithfulness of Christ, faithfulness of priests

Shortly before she made her Profession, in answer to a formal inquiry as to why she had entered Carmel, St. Therese affirmed: “I have come to Carmel to save souls and to pray for priests”.

Although St. Therese had always had the greatest respect for priests, she also realized they were fallible and human, like everyone else.

Our focus for the Novena honoring St. Therese in this Year for Priests will be to do as she did: to pray and sacrifice for all who share the great privilege of the ministerial priesthood, not forgetting to include our own personal intentions.

We invite you to join us for the Novena (made privately) and for the Blessing of Roses (see the schedule below).

NOVENA PRAYER

O Jesus, eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter of your Sacred Heart where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands which daily hold your Sacred Body.

Keep unsullied their lips which daily taste your Precious Blood.

Keep pure and steadfast their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood.

Let your holy love surround them and shield them from the influence of evil.

Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation on earth and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown.

Jesus, eternal Priest, remember also your Priestly People who turn to you with confidence.

Keep us and our families faithful to you. Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs and fears, our temptations and frustrations, in all that is trying or distressing in our lives. We trust in your merciful love as we make all these prayers through your chosen child, St. Therese. Amen.

Schedule

NOVENA: September 23 through October 1
Please join us as we pray it privately for all priests and for your intentions.

THURSDAY: October 1, Feast of St. Therese, Mass at 6:45 AM at the Carmelite Monastery

SUNDAY: October 4, Mass and Blessing of Roses @ 2:30 PM at the Carmelite Monastery

Discalced Carmelite Nuns
Monastery of Mary, Mother of Grace
1250 Carmel Drive
Lafayette, Louisiana 70501 - 5299
(337) 232-3623
http://www.lafayettecarmelites.org/