A Prayer for Priests

Lord Jesus, we your people pray to You for our priests.  You have given them to us for our needs.  We pray for them in their needs.

We know that You have made them priests in the likeness of Your own priesthood.  You have consecrated them, set them aside, anointed them, filled them with the Holy Spirit, appointed them to teach, to preach, to minister, to console, to forgive, and to feed us with Your Body and Blood.

Yet we know, too, that they are one with us and share our human weaknesses.  We know too that they are tempted to sin and discouragement as we are, needing to be ministered to, as do we, to be consoled and forgive, as do we.  Indeed, we thank You for choosing them from among us, so that they understand us as we understand them, suffer with us and rejoice with us, worry with us and trust with us, share our beings, our lives, our faith.

We ask that You give them this day the gift You gave Your chosen ones on the way to Emmaus:  Your presence in their hearts, Your holiness in their souls, Your joy in their spirits.  And let them see You face to face in the breaking of the Eucharistic bread.

We pray to You, O Lord, through Mary the Mother of all priests, for Your priests and for ours.  Amen.

written by John Cardinal O’Connor

I Choose You

I just came back from a retreat with the Carmelite Sisters at the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Alhambra.  It varied from one moment to the next, I could not have imagined where it led and took me.  It tested my patience, it gave me strength, it brought me down to my knees and in tears, it gave me hope and consolation, it made me really look at where I am in my relationship with God, with my family, and with my friends. 

The highlight was finding a long lost friend… Jesus.  He had been so far from my heart these past few months… or should I say, I had been away from Him.  It’s amazing how, if you are not careful, even good things and good people can make you lose sight of God.  Your life becomes out of focus and God is moved little by little away from your central point.

Another ‘eye-opener’ for me was watching the faces of the novices who would be making their first profession of vows tonight.  There was joy in their faces.  When I was in the quiet time with Our Lord, I told Him ‘I choose You’.  I do want to choose Him above all things but when I surrendered to Him at that moment, it was with sadness.  And in my heart, I heard Him say, ‘I want you to choose me… but in joy.  Maybe you are not yet ready to give your all.  Give me only what you can and want to.  Do not force anything… not even your love for me.  I want you to be happy with your choice and not feel obligated to it, and then along the way hate me for it.  In time, it will come… it will grow… and when it does, you will be joyful as you surrender ALL.’ 

I don’t know if what I’ve said makes sense but it’s where I am right now.

You Are My God

Originally posted by briandismasg as comment to Fr Stan Raps His Jesus Walk:

Thanks for the link Fr. John. I found this video and it just set me on fire and hunger for some ‘Eucharistic Adoration’ :’)

Tony Melendez
You are my God and the rock on which I stand.
I have found my place in your arms of grace.
Oh, oh. You are my God.

Lord of heaven, king of all the universe,
Architect and poet of eternity,
Abba Father, breath of life. creation’s dawn,
Ever-living, one who knows and loves me.

First forgiver, ever present “God with us”,
Lamb of love, who died triumphant over sin.
Risen Savior, brilliant bright and morning star,
Shining in me. Light of glory lives within.

Fr. Stan Raps His Jesus Walk

Palm Sunday 2007 - Fr Stan Fortuna in Sydney

On 2nd April 2007, over 3,000 filled the forecourts of St Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate World Youth Day & Palm Sunday. The Youth Festival style concert featured local acts (award winning dance crew Psalms, Christian rock bank Portico77, Australian Idol finalist Joseph Gatehau), as well as internationally known Catholic priest (and rapper) Fr Stan Fortuna. You’ll see these guys again next July when World Youth Day 08 hits Sydney in another loud, public and awesome celebration of faith & life.
Visit: www.cyshouse.org.au

Interview