Ember Saturday Advent : the day Christ was entombed. (Fast and abstinence)
by VP
Posted on Saturday December 20, 2025 at 12:00AM in Ember Days
Source: Our Lady Mother of Priests Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P.
Saturday in Ember Week.
"The Church directs the Ember-days to be spent in humiliation, fasting and prayer. Besides the two objects of obtaining a blessing on the fruits of the earth, and upon those who are promoted at this time to Holy Orders, she enjoins us to pray for a seasonable time, and that God would preserve us from all pestilential distempers. All creatures are in the hands of God. Beg of Him therefore mercifully to dispose all, so that they may contribute to our life and health, and not to our destruction. We have offended God in all His creatures, and if all of them were to be armed against us, we could not complain of any injustice, because our sins deserve the greatest of His rigours. But appeal to His goodness still; and beseech Him to forgive our iniquities, and to oblige us to be more faithful to Him by the wonders of His mercy, and not of His justice." The Catholic Year, Fr. John Gother
"All
good Catholics must needs feel an interest in the future priests of the
Church, for ordination not only confers an immense privilege on those
who are ordained, but also affects the salvation of those souls, who are
hereafter to be entrusted to their care. The recurrence of the Ember
Days should, therefore, remind all to pray:
1. for vocations to the priesthood, that God would send fit laborers for reaping the harvest;
2. that those about to be ordained may be filled with the true spirit of their high calling;
3. for the success of the labors of the Bishops and clergy, both secular and regular, as also for their welfare.
We may sum up by stating that the three good works, styled eminent, are inculcated upon us at the Ember seasons. Prayer and fasting hold a prominent place: St. Leo, who said so much on Ember days, adds almsgiving: " Let us spend in good deeds," he says, "What we take from indulgence."
No better time than the Ember Days could be chosen to lay aside, or offer, an alms towards the support of seminaries and other institutions of the training of candidates for the priesthood; or for an object which is equally important, the maintenance of the clergy in general.
To carry out the success these intentions of the Church at Ember-tide, no new confraternity need be established; all that is required is a full appreciation of the spirit of the Church as manifested in her Liturgy and observances, when these seasons come round. The test of true love for our Lord, as His own words tell, is obedience to His Will. We may apply to the Church, His representative, and her ordinances, this same test of true love, which He Himself has given: "If you love Me, keep my commandments." Source:The Ember Days. page 20 Publication of the Catholic Truth Society Vol. XXXII Dom Columba Edmonds OSB
A Prayer for Vocations to St. John Vianney:
O God our Father, You promised "I will
appoint shepherds for My sheep who will shepherd them so that they need
no longer fear and tremble:
and none shall be missing." (Jer. 23:4-5). Hear the prayers of Your
flock. Through the intercession of Your beloved priest, Saint John
Vianney,
we beg You to call to the sacramental priesthood generous men who will
desire nothing more than to serve You in imitation of Your Son, Our
Lord Jesus Christ, our High Priest. And after You call them, we pray
that You sustain the doubtful, console the discouraged, and strengthen
the weak as they start the long and demanding preparation for the
priesthood.
Mary, Mother of priests, and example of faithful, humble,
and joyful acceptance of Godʼs will, help all those who are called to
the priesthood to open their ears and hearts to the gentle call of the
Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Litany for the Church (For private use)
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, Divine Founder of the Church, hear us.
Christ, Who didst warn of false prophets, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.
St. Michael, Defender in Battle, pray for us.
St. Peter, the Rock upon which Christ built His , Church, pray for us.
St. Paul, Protector of the Faithful Remnant, pray for us.
St. Francis of Assist, Re-builder of the Church, pray for us.
St. Anthony, Hammer of Heretics, pray for us.
St. Pius V, Restorer of the beauty of the Sacred Liturgy, pray for us.
St. Pius X, Foe of Modernism, pray for us.
All ye Holy Angels and Archangels, pray that we may resist the snares of the Devil.
St. Catherine of Siena, pray that Christ's Vicar may oppose the spirit of the world.
St. John Fisher, pray that bishops may have the courage to combat heresy and irreverence.
St. Francis Xavier, pray that zeal for souls may be re-enkindled in the clergy.
St. Charles Borromeo, pray that seminaries may be protected from false teachings.
St. Vincent de Paul, pray that seminarians may return to a life of prayer and meditation.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray that religious may rediscover their vocation of love and sacrifice.
St. Thomas More, pray that the laity may not succumb to the Great Apostasy.
St. Francis de Sales, pray that the Catholic press may again become a vehicle of Truth.
St. John Bosco, pray that our children may be protected
from immoral and heretical instruction.
St. Pascal, pray that profound reverence for the Most Blessed Sacrament may be restored.
St. Dominic, pray that we may ever treasure the Holy Rosary.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Jesus, our God, in these dark hours when Thy Mystical Body
is undergoing its own Crucifixion, and when it would almost seem to
be abandoned by God the Father, have mercy, we beg of Thee, on Thy
suffering Church. Send down upon us the Divine Consoler, to enlighten our minds and strengthen our wills.Thou,
O Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity, Who canst neither deceive nor
be deceived, have promised to be with Thy Church until the end of time.
Give us a mighty Faith that we may not falter; help us to do Thy Holy
Will always, especially during these hours of grief and uncertainty. May Thy Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of
Thy Holy Mother be our sure refuge in time and in eternity. Amen
Ember Friday Advent : Christ was crucified (Fast and abstinence)
by VP
Posted on Friday December 19, 2025 at 12:00AM in Ember Days
Station of the Cross, Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh NC
Friday in Ember Week.
"This being an Ember-day,
fail not to pray for all the intentions of the Church in the institution
of these days. One important object of your prayers should be, to beg a
blessing upon all those who are at this time promoted to Holy Orders.
God has ordained His Church to be provided with pastors for the good of
the flock: beseech Him therefore to have mercy on all who at this time
receive Holy Orders. Beg of Him to give them a spirit answerable to
their function; that they may be a light to all those, who are to be under their charge. Pray to Him
to give them a zeal for the good of souls, that they may be ready to do
good to all, according to their necessities, and be prepared at all
times to give their life for their flock." The Catholic Year, Fr. John Gother
Prayer for our Bishop:
O Jesus, Prince of Pastors, Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, give our bishops ................ all those virtues, which they need for their sanctification! May they watch over themselves and the entire flock, with which the Holy Spirit has entrusted them! Fill their hearts with Thine own Spirit! Give them faith, charity, wisdom and strength! Send them faithful co-laborers in the great work of saving and guiding souls! Make them shepherds after Thine own heart, living only for their holy office, fearing nobody but Thee, and hoping for nothing but Thee, in order that when Thou shalt come, to judge shepherds and flocks, they may obtain the unfading reward of eternal life! Amen Imprimatur: Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D. Raleigh, N.C. March 25, 1956
"The violence of the enemy is always directed against those priests who
are most generous and most loyal.The more you are like your Divine
Model, your Savior and your God, the more certainly will you be the
target for the calumnies, the abuse and persecutions of the wicked." Revs. Jacques Nicolas et P. Millet, S.J. (Jesus Living in the Priest: Considerations on the greatness and Holiness of the Priesthood)
Way of the Cross for Priests ( Especially for those who are suffering persecution)
Wednesday in Ember Week of Advent: the day Christ was betrayed (Fast and half-abstinence)
by VP
Posted on Wednesday December 17, 2025 at 12:00AM in Ember Days
"This being Ember-week, we
are required to humble ourselves in fasting and prayer, and to observe
these days according to the spirit of the Church. Beg a blessing on the
fruits of the earth, and pray for all those, who at this time are
promoted to Holy Orders, that they may be worthy ministers of the
Church. It is by God's blessing that the earth is fruitful for the
relief of our necessities. Beg of Him to be favourable to us at this
time, and give His wonted blessing to the earth, that whatever seed is
committed to it may bring forth its increase for our support and
comfort; and that finding the wonderful effects of God's goodness, we
may be mindful of the mercy, and give Him the glory." The Catholic Year, Father John Gother.
Prayer:
Divine
Savior Jesus Christ, Thou are the Good Shepherd who gives His life for
His sheep. Oh, be in a very special way the Good Shepherd of those poor
lost priests who are also appointed by Thee to be leaders of Thy people,
but who have broken the oath of their holy ordination and have become
unfaithful to their exalted calling. Bestow upon these poorest of the
poor the very fullness of that pastoral solicitude with which Thou dost
so faithfully seek the sheep that are lost! Touch their hearts with the
irresistible ray of grace which emanates from Thine all-merciful love!
Enlighten their minds and strengthen their wills, that they may turn
away from all sin and error and come back to Thy holy altar and to Thy
people. O most compassionate Savior! Remember that Thou didst once
redeem the souls of Thine erring priests with Thy Precious Blood and in
infinite preferential love didst impress upon them the indelible
character of the priesthood. Put wholly to shame those miserable helpers
of Satan who lay snares for the virtue of priests and endanger the holy
ideal of the priesthood. Most graciously accept our prayers and
sacrifices for poor priests who have gone astray and hear our earnest
petition. Amen
St. Anthony of Padua, defender of the Holy Eucharist, obtain for us holy priests.
St. John-Mary Vianney, model of sacerdotal holiness, obtain for us holy priests.
St. Francis Xavier, patron of missionary priests, obtain for us holy priests.
St.
Therese of the Child-Jesus and of the Holy Face, victim offered for the
sanctification of priests, obtain for us holy priests.
Saints and Servants of God, obtain for us holy priests.
Imprimatur - Bishop John F. Null (April 18, 1948)
Litany to Obtain Holy Priests: (For private use)
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Christ, hear us
Christ, Graciously hear us
God, Our Heavenly Father, have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God, The Holy Ghost, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, Three Persons in one God, have mercy on us
Lord, obtain for us priests
Lord, obtain for us holy priests and make us docile to their teachings
Holy Mary, Queen of the Clergy, obtain for us holy priests
Saint Joseph, Patron of the Church, obtain for us holy priests
Saint Michael, splendor and protector of the Church militant, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Saints and Archangels, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Martyrs and Virgins, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Bishops and Confessors, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Priests and Doctors, obtain for us holy priests
All you holy Founders of religious orders, obtain for us holy priests
St. Anthony of Padua, defender of the Holy Eucharist, obtain for us holy priests
St. John-Mary Vianney, model of sacerdotal holiness, obtain for us holy priests
St. Francis Xavier, patron of missionary priests, obtain for us holy priests
St. Therese of the Child-Jesus and of the Holy Face, victim offered for
the sanctification of priests, obtain for us holy priests
Saints and Servants of God, obtain for us holy priests.
To celebrate with reverence the Holy Mysteries, obtain for us holy priests
To offer every day the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, obtain for us holy priests
To feed the people of God with the Bread of life, obtain for us holy priests
To promote the splendors of the Divine Worship, obtain for us holy priests
To regenerate souls through baptism, obtain for us holy priests
To instruct the faithful in the Holy Faith, obtain for us holy priests
To keep the faithful in the fear of the Lord, obtain for us holy priests
To announce to all the Word of God, obtain for us holy priests
To unmask and combat false doctrines, obtain for us holy priests
To fortify the Faith of those who doubt, obtain for us holy priests
To support and encourage those who fail, obtain for us holy priests
To raise up those who fall and to reconcile them to God, obtain for us holy priests
To bring back to God those who rejected Him, obtain for us holy priests
To protect christian morality, obtain for us holy priests
To fight with zeal the corruption of morality, obtain for us holy priests
To bless holy unions, obtain for us holy priests
To defend the honor and sanctity of marriage, obtain for us holy priests
To strengthen the happiness of our christian families, obtain for us holy priests
To fortify and console our sicks and those who suffer, obtain for us holy priests
To assist our dying ones, obtain for us holy priests
To lead our dead to eternal happiness, obtain for us holy priests
To pray and offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for our dead, obtain for us holy priests
To give glory to God, and to give grace and peace to souls of good will, obtain for us holy priests.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
The Lord chose for Himself priests so that they will offer Him a worthy thanksgiving.
Let us pray: God Almighty and merciful, favorably grant the prayers of
Your faithful and grant to those whom You have given the immense
generosity of your clemency, to be elevated to the service of the
heavenly mysteries, to become worthy ministers at Your sacred altars, so
that their teachings be confirmed by your sanctification, through Our
Lord Jesus-Christ, Amen.
Translated by CAPG (Litanies pour Obtenir de Saints Prêtres: Private Litany to obtain Holy Priests)
