Prayer for Priests

Year for Priests

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a “Year for Priests” beginning with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2009. The year will conclude in Rome with an international gathering of priests with the Holy Father on June 19, 2010.

With the announcement of this Year for Priests, the Pope has also declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of the Curé d’Ars.

Spiritual Adoption of a Priest

Priests are the greatest benefactors of humanity because it is through them that Christ continues to re-enact his unique sacrifice for the salvation of humankind. It is through the Priest that he extends his forgiving hands and opens his heart full of Divine Mercy. Called to be the living monuments of Christ’s love in the world today, priests spend their whole life, for God and His people. They need prayer support to live their priestly commitment and mission in today’s challenging world.

Spiritual adoption consists in offering up of prayers and sacrifices for a specific priest. The aim of this ministry is to strengthen the sanctity of priests through spiritual adoption. The Holy Name Society wants to let every Catholic priest know that someone has adopted him spiritually during this year of priests (June 19, 2009 to June 19, 2010).

The NAHNS is requesting that all parish Holy Name Societies and individual Holy Name Society members Spiritually Adopt their parish priest or their Spiritual Advisor / Director.