Prayer to the Virgin Mary for Pastors
O Mary,
Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests:
accept this title with which we honor you today
to exalt your motherhood
and to contemplate with you
the Priesthood of your only-begotten Son and of your children,
O Holy Mother of God.
Mother of Christ,
who to the Messiah Priest gave a body of flesh
by the anointing of the Holy Spirit
to save the poor and contrite of heart:
guard in your womb and in the Church every priest,
O Mother of the Savior.
Mother of faith,
who accompanied the Son of Man to the temple,
in fulfillment of the promises
made to our Fathers:
present to God the Father, for his glory,
the priests of your Son,
O Ark of the Covenant.
Mother of the Church,
who with the disciples in the Cenacle
implored the Spirit
for the new People and their Shepherds:
attain for the order of priests
the fullness of His gifts,
O Queen of Apostles.
Mother of Jesus Christ,
you were with Him at the beginning of His life
and mission,
you sought Him as Master among the crowd,
you accompanied Him on the cross,
exhausted by the unique and eternal sacrifice,
and you had John at your side, as your son:
welcome from the beginning
those called to the priesthood,
protect them in their formation
and accompany your sons
in their life and ministry,
oh Mother of priests. Amen.
Saint John Paul II