Pray for our priests!

Catholic World News : Fears, negotiations for priests kidnapped in Iraq: "Two Syrian Catholic priests were kidnapped in Iraq on Saturday, October 13." Our priests are under attack on every front. Satan attacks from right and left, front and back. Pray for all of our priests, especially those under in spiritual or physical danger. Lord Jesus, You have chosen Your priests from among us and sent them out to proclaim Your word and to act in Your name. For so great a gift to Your Church, we give You praise and thanksgiving. We ask You to 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 shine out through their weakness. In their afflictions let them never be crushed; in their doubts never despair; in temptation never be destroyed; in persecution never abandoned. Inspire them through prayer to live each day the mystery of Your dying and rising. In time of weakness send them Your Spirit, and help them to praise Your heavenly Father and pray for poor sinners. By the same Holy Spirit, put Your word on their lips and Your love in their hearts, to bring good news to the poor and healing to the brokenhearted. And 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 her human image, may form them in Your divine image, by the power of Your Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Prayer found at http://www.scborromeo.org/prayers.htm

Another Minor Seminary Closes

Chicago shutters one of nation's last Catholic seminaries for youth: "Its closure will leave just seven preparatory seminaries with a combined enrollment of about 500 students in the United States. This, at a time when the number of priests in the United States has dropped from nearly 59,000 in 1975 to about 42,000 last year." As someone who attended a minor seminary (that is now closed), this is sad news. We need to diagnose why this is happening. Some of it is societal undoubtedly. Changes in the Church haven't helped. But some of this is how we (the laity) see vocations in our own families (not just someone elses family). I was talking recently about how many parents view becoming a priest as negative. I find this shameful. If I have no grand kids because my son becomes a priest and my daughters become nuns, I will thank God for the tremendous gifts they will have received. A vocation to the priesthood is not something to be looked down upon, it is a privilege.