Special Indulgence for the Year of Priests

     During the Year for Priests which began on June 19, 2009 and will end on June 19, 2010, the gift of special Indulgences is granted as described in the Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, published on May 12.

     The Plenary Indulgence is granted to all the faithful who are truly repentant who, in church or in chapel,

1) devoutly attend the divine Sacrifice of Mass and receive Holy Communion

2) offer prayers to Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest, for the priests of the Church and any other good work which they have done on that day

3) made expiation for their sins through       sacramental confession

4) prayed in accordance with the Supreme Pontiff's intentions on:

-the days in which the Year for Priests begins and ends (June 19)

-the feast day of St. John Mary Vianney, (Aug 4)

-the first Thursday of the month

      The Plenary Indulgence will likewise be granted to the elderly, the sick and all those who for any

legitimate reason are confined to their homes who, with a mind detached from any sin and with the

intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions, at home or wherever their

impediment detains them, provided that on the above-mentioned days they recite prayers for the sanctification of priests and confidently offer the illnesses and hardships of their lives to God through Mary Queen of Apostles.

Lastly, the Partial Indulgence is granted to all the faithful

1)   every time they devoutly recite five Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorias, or

2)   another expressly approved prayer,

in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to obtain that priests be preserved in purity and holiness of life.

Suggested prayers to use:

Almighty and Merciful God, who bestowed upon St. John Vianney, the Cure of Ars, wonderful pastoral zeal and great fervor of prayer and penance, grant, we beg of You, that by his example and intercession, our parish priests may be able to gain the souls of their brethren for Christ and with them attain everlasting glory. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Priests

O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep Your Priests under the shelter of Your Sacred Heart. Keep unstained their anointed hands which daily touch Your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips purpled with Your Precious Blood. Keep pure and holy their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of Your Glorious Priesthood. Let Your Holy Love surround them and shield them from the world’s corruption. Bless their labors with abundant fruit, and may all to whom they minister here below be their joy and consolation, and in Heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.

Prayer for Priests (Peter John Cameron, O.P.)

Divine Savior Jesus Christ, who has entrusted the whole work of your redemption, the welfare, and

salvation of the world to priests as Your representatives, through the hands of your most Holy Mother and for the sanctification of your priests and candidates for the priesthood, I offer you this present day wholly and entirely, with all its prayers, works, joys, sacrifices, and sorrows. Give us truly holy priests who, inflamed with the fire of Your divine love, seek nothing but Your greater glory and the salvation of our souls. And you, Mary, good Mother of priests, protect all priests in the dangers of their holy vocation and, with the loving hand of a Mother, also lead back to the Good Shepherd those poor priests who have become unfaithful to their exalted vocation and have gone astray. Amen.