Desire for Heaven
O Holy Priest of Ars, your precious remains are contained in a magnificent reliquary, the donation from the priests of France. But this earthly glory is only a very pale image of the unspeakable glory which you are enjoying with God. During the time you were on earth, you used to repeat in your dejected hours, “one will rest in the other life.” It is done, you are in eternal peace, and eternal happiness.
May our priests desire to follow you and hear your words: “You should work and fight as long as you are in the world.” Teach our priests to work for the salvation of our souls, to spread the good news and good example and to do good towards those around them in order that they will receive the eternal happiness of the Elect with you.
Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in your intercession. I pray for our priests during this novena especially for … (mention silently your special intentions).
Read Chapter 17 of the Gospel of John and then pray:
Ave Maris Stella
Hail, Star of the sea! Blessed Mother of God, yet ever a virgin! O
happy gate of heaven!
Thou that didst receive the Ave from Gabriel’s lips, confirm us in
peace, and so let Eva be changed into an Ave of blessing for us.
Loose the sinner’s chains, bring light to the blind, drive from us
our evils, and ask all good things for us.
Show thyself a mother, and offer our prayers to him, who would be
born of thee, when born for us.
O incomparable Virgin, and meekest of the meek, obtain us the
forgiveness of our sins, and make us meek and chaste.
Obtain us purity of life, and a safe pilgrimage; that we may be
united with thee in the blissful vision of Jesus.
Praise be to God the Father and to the Lord Jesus, and to the Holy
Spirit: to the Three one self-same praise. Amen.
Holy Mary, intercede for your priests.
St. Joseph, protect our priests.
St. Michael, defend our priests.
St John Vianney, Patron of Priests, pray for our priests.
O Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I adore Thee. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Establish my soul in Truth…O Holy Spirit come into my life through Mary. Renew and invigorate our priests. Sanctify all our priests.
Sources used for this Novena: EWTN.com and In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart: The Journal of a Priest at Prayer by a Benedictine Monk, Angelico Press, 2016