priest

The Ten Lepers: The Healing Power of Gratitude Brothers and sisters in Christ, In today's Gospel, we hear the story of ten lepers who encounter Jesus as He is traveling toward Jerusalem. They stand at a distance and cry out: “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” Jesus hears their cry and tells them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they go, they are cleansed of their leprosy. But something very interesting happens. Out of the ten who were healed, only one returns to Jesus to give thanks. And Luke makes an important observation: the one who returned was a Samaritan, a foreigner. Jesus asks: “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?” This question is not simply about good manners. It is a question about the human heart. It challenges us to examine our relationship with God. Let us reflect on three important lessons. 1. We are often very good at asking but not always good at thanking. Notice how all ten lepers prayed when they were suffering. They knew whe...

Prayer for Our Priests Heavenly Father, I come to pray to you for our priests: our priests working in parishes or residence of retired people, our priests teaching at the seminary or at the university, our priests working in the diocesan offices, our priests in foreign missions, our religious priests. Heavenly Father, I glorify your holy name, I praise you, I thank you for these men whom you have given us as spiritual leaders, these men responsible for our Christian communities, our parish activities. Heavenly Father, I know that, just like us, they have their questions, their doubts, their hesitations. They say before their ordination and again after it: "Do I really have this vocation?" "Am I truly at the right place?" "Will I be able to preach, for I am shy?" "Shall I be able to pray my divine office with the load of activities?" "Am I not following a human ambition?" Be with them, Father, support them, giv...

St. Catherine’s Prayer for Priests Father, I beseech You, direct the hearts and wills of the servants of Your Bride, the Holy Church, unto Yourself, so that they may follow the poor, bleeding, humble, and gentle Lamb of God on the Way of the Cross. Make them angels in the shape of men! For after all, it is they who must administer and distribute the Body and Blood of Your Only Begotten Son. Amen.