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Prayer for Good Harvest, Félix de Vigne

"As God was pleased at this time to show mercy to His apostles, in sending to them the Holy Ghost, to prepare them for duly satisfying that great charge, which Christ had committed to them, consider how desirable it is that He should show mercy to you likewise, and by the operation of the same Holy Spirit, vouchsafe to prepare you for satisfying the obligations, which belongs to your state. You are a Christian: endeavour therefore to understand the import of this word, and to have a sense of all the obligations annexed to this character. You have lived perhaps many years in this profession; but how little care have you taken to know the duties belonging to this name! Beg now that the Holy Ghost would enter into your soul, and that you may now live by his Spirit. He will take off your heart from the world, and practically convince you that all that belongs to this world is vanity and affliction of spirit. He will give you a dislike of all that has hitherto pleased you, to the prejudice of your soul; so that you will now have no relish for those entertainments, which you know to be vain and foolish. He will lessen in you all worldly solicitude; and let not the concerns of this life any more possess your heart with excess. You will then have it fixed in your mind that all the things of this world are but momentary, and daily pass away, and whether they please or displease us, must soon come to an end; and therefore that you ought not to afflict yourself about them, and much less, let the concern for them take off your heart from eternity.

This being an Ember Day, recommend to the fatherly providence of God the fruits of the earth; begging that by his blessing all may go on to a plentiful harvest. Beseech Him also to preserve us from all pestilential distempers, both in man and beast; and grant us such a sense of gratitude, that the enjoyment of his blessings may oblige us not only to be thankful, but likewise faithful to our merciful and gracious benefactor." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Prayers for Ember Days:

Listen, Almighty God, we beseech Thee, to the prayers which Thy universal Church offers to Thee at this time, beseeching Thy blessing on those who are about to be admitted to Thy Holy Service of the Altar, in particular on  Deacons Cong lee and Ross Williams. Give Thy grace to all who are called to any office and administration amongst Thy clergy, and so replenish them with the truth of Thy doctrine, and indue them with innocence of life, that they may faithfully serve Thee, to the glory of Thy great name and the benefit of Thy Holy Church. Amen

O God, of Whose mercies there is no number, and of Whose goodness the treasure is infinite, we humbly thank Thee for the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Continue Thy mercy to us, and give us also so much of Thy temporal blessings as Thou knowest to be for our good. Grant that the fruits of the earth may, by Thy holy favor, increase and multiply. Defend them from all drought, frosts or tempests, or whatever else may be hurtful to them. It is from Thy hand only that we look for succor, and to Thee we have recourse in all our necessities. Amen.

Source: St. John's Manual 1856, Archbishop of New York John J. Hugues

"THIS being the time, when the Holy Ghost, the Comforter as Christ had promised, came down upon the apostles, in the form of fiery tongues, and so replenished them with anew spirit, that they were now fitted for that great work, which Christ had recommended to them, of preaching His faith to all nations; with gratitude acknowledged this mercy, and give praise to God for the blessing of this time. The Holy Spirit was sent down upon the apostles to be their guide, to teach them, and lead them into all truth; to be their light, to go before them, and give them understanding: to be their comforter, to abide with them for ever. He was their life and strength; He prepared and fitted them to preach the faith of Christ to all nations, and to establish his Church as an eternal kingdom. Endeavour to be truly sensible of this goodness, and that living a faithful servant of God, you may have the benefit of His holy institution. Express your hearty desires, that as this Holy Church is your unspeakable comfort and support, amidst the distracted notions of an unbelieving world, so it may daily bring forth children to God, who may walk here by the Gospel and spirit of our Lord Jesus, and being translated from this Gis mystical body here on earth, may be added to those choirs above, there to give him eternal praises for all His mercies.

It being Ember Week, join in fasting, humiliation, and prayer, as the Church requires, and offer your petitions to God, in particular for those, who at this time are promoted to Holy Orders, throughout the Church; that the Holy Ghost may rest upon them, and every way prepare them for that great and difficult charge, to which they are called. Recommend to Almighty God all the ministers of His holy altar, that they may be vested with holiness, and walk in all things, according to the sanctity of their vocation; that when the prince of pastors shall appear, they may receive an unfading crown of glory." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"(..) We must pray that the Holy Ghost will descend in the unction of truth and the unction of sanctity upon the Bishops, and Pastors and Priests of the Church throughout the world. They were the first fruits of the Holy Ghost. To them our divine Lord said, when He breathed upon them: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost; on them He descended: they were baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire," that they might be to the end of the world, the image of our Lordʼs own perfection as the Great High Priest, and the Great Shepherd of the sheep. As they are, so will be the flock, if the salt lose its savor, the people will corrupt; if the light burn dimly, the people will wander in darkness. Pray then for the Bishops who were set by the Holy Ghost to rule the Church of God, which He purchased with His precious blood. Pray for the Pastors that, in charity and courage, they may feed the flock, and if need be, lay down their lives for the sheep. If the Seven Gifts rest upon them, their intellect will be guided, they will be strong; they will be holy, humble, undefiled, and separate from sinners, and when priest are holy the people will be uncontaminated by the spirit of the world." Special devotion to the Holy Ghost : a manual for the use of seminarians, priests, religious and the Christian people, Rev. Fr. Otto Zardetti 1888

Prayer to the Holy Ghost for Priests

O Holy Ghost, Thou Friend of priests, send them daily Thy seven gifts, that they may live worthy of their calling, and become all to all in order to win souls for heaven. Give them patience with children, pity for the sick, humility toward the poor, and generosity toward the enemies of Thy holy Church. Make them active in teaching, untiring in the tribunal of penance, and zealous in distributing Holy Communion. Let them be terrible to the demons of hell and messengers of peace to all who are of good will. May Thy blessing accompany them wherever they may go; may Thy peace enter with them in the dwellings they may visit; mayest Thou bless all whom they may bless. Make them true apostles and saints. Amen. Come Holy Ghost, a compilation of prayers in honor of the Divine Spirit. 1932 Fr. Lester Martin Dooley.

"It may appear extraordinary, that in this great solemnity of joy and thanksgiving, the Church should oblige her children to fasting, humiliation, and penance. The reason is, that in this week bishops confer Holy Orders, ordaining priests, deacons, and other ministers of the Church. Being sensible how absolutely necessary the Holy Ghost is for them, in the discharge of their sacred functions, the Church summons the faithful to make their addresses to God in their behalf, in fasting and prayer; that so this spirit may be abundantly poured forth upon them, and they may thus be made worthy ministers of God's Church. This summons ought to be faithfully obeyed by all; inasmuch as this is a great concern of the whole body, of which they are members. Unhappy those, who on these days, when the Church obliges, never concern themselves about imploring the assistance of God's Holy Spirit for such as are presented for this important charge, but seek profanely their own amusement and satisfaction, when they should be making their application to God in the spirit of humility, for this public good. How ought we all then to pray this day, that none may be promoted to Holy Orders, but such as are called by Almighty God, and prepared by His special grace to be fit ministers in his Church. By the blood of His only Son, He has purchased to Himself a Church, for the glory of His name, and for instructing the whole world in His saving truths. Beg of Him therefore mercifully to secure it under His protection, and fulfil all His promises to it, that it may answer all those holy purposes, for which it was ordained. Pray to Him to be the pastor of all its pastors; and by the influence of His grace, so to direct and govern them, that they may be so many lights to the flock, and both by word and example, lead them in the way of salvation. And in a special manner recommend to His fatherly care, all, who at this time are promoted to Holy Orders throughout the Church." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Let us pray the Holy Spirit to enlighten our bishop in the choice of worthy candidates for the Holy Priesthood.

"On Ember days we pray and make sacrifices for ourselves, our families, the Church and the world." We should never let these seasons pass without adding prayer to our fasts, or it may be compensating fast by prayer. Our prayer should be for the clergy, not only those ordained, though for them especially; but for the Sovereign Pontiff, the cardinals, bishops, parochial clergy, missionaries and religious orders, seminarians; and for the grace of vocation to the priesthood.

Brief Meditations for Pentecost Ember Days

Today is Ember Wednesday of the Summer or Pentecost Embertide. These Ember Days fall during the week after Pentecost (the traditional octave of Pentecost), near the summer solstice. The three focal points for the Ember Days of this period of the year are:

1) to ask God to bless especially the wheat harvest,

2) to thank God for the season of summer, and

3) to ask for special graces for those being ordained as priests during this season.

Prayers for Ember Days:

• An excellent prayer for this purpose is the Litany of the Saints, in which so many bishops, priests, and levites are invoked; or the Rosary may be appropriately said, grouping those for whom we pray into five classes (Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, and Seminarians), corresponding to the five decades.

• Listen, Almighty God, we beseech Thee, to the prayers which Thy universal Church offers to Thee at this time, beseeching Thy blessing on those who are about to be admitted to Thy Holy Service of the Altar. Give Thy grace to all who are called to any office and administration amongst Thy clergy, and so replenish them with the truth of Thy doctrine, and indue them with innocence of life, that they may faithfully serve Thee, to the glory of Thy great name and the benefit of Thy Holy Church. Amen

• O God, of Whose mercies there is no number, and of Whose goodness the treasure is infinite, we humbly thank Thee for the gifts thou hast bestowed upon us. Continue Thy mercy to us, and give us also so much of Thy temporal blessings as Thou knowest to be for our good. Grant that the fruits of the earth may, by Thy holy favor, increase and multiply. Defend them from all drought, frosts or tempests, or whatever else may be hurtful to them. It is from Thy hand only that we look for succor, and to Thee we have recourse in all our necessities. Amen. Source: St. John's Manual 1856, Archbishop of New York John J. Hugues

Litany to Obtain Holy Priests

Source: Ember Days (Cure d'Ars Prayer Group)