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The devil does not sleep, but ever goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may snatch, kill, destroy and devour. And Shalt thou in the meantime be silent, fold thy hands, and doze off to sleep?

O son! O priest! Remember thy last end; think of the awful hour of judgment in which thou shalt render to me an account of thy stewardship.

What joy shall it be for thee if a multitude of souls sanctified by thy ministry shall in glory draw near to me to drink forever of the torrent of my delights!

Oh, happy shalt thou be then, as thou too sittest in judgment upon a throne!

But, oh , what grief will be thine if thou seest a multitude of souls damned through thy fault and cast into the burning pit where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Oh, how wretched and abandoned shalt thou be then! The blood of the sheep that I have committed to thy care shall cry out to me, and I will demand their blood at thy hand.

Source: An Epitome of the Priestly Life by Claude Arvisenet

Let us listen while the Spouse of the holy canticles addresses us these sweet words, and endeavour to comprehend them:

"I sleep," does He say, "and my heart watches."

Ah! if He had stopped at this one word I sleep, far from tasting therein the suavity, that I seek , I should find only disquietude and alarm. Jesus Christ sleeps, and the devil, my enemy, watches and prowls around me like a lion to devour. Jesus Christ sleeps, and my senses, constantly awake, lie in ambush for my soul to enslave it. Jesus Christ sleeps, who will watch for me? My love sleeps, on whom shall I rely, My strength sleeps, who will support me? My hope sleeps, in whom shall I trust?....

But He who is, at once, my love, my hope, my strength, leaves me not long in suspense. I sleep, says He, but my heart watches; and, lo! I am at once reassured. It is no heavy slumber which leaves the heart to watch; it is not a sleep of forgetfulness when the heart keeps vigil. If His heart watches, then He will love me; if His heart watches, then He will come to my aid. His heart will always find secret words to instruct me, and secret delights to charm me; what matters it that all in Him sleeps, if His heart watches? His heart is all. Sleep, Lord Jesus, I am tranquil, Thy heart watches.

Blessed art thou, my son, since I have inspired thee with that holy fear which is the beginning of wisdom.

Fear, for the more thou fearest the more prompt I shall be to hasten to thine aid. Have confidence, for the more thou trutest in me the more shalt thou enjoy my special protection. All things are possible to me, my son, and there is no one who can resist my will. If thou doest what in the lies to please me, confidently hope for salvation from me. 

Let thy sins be ever so great, if thou repentest of them and abstainest from them confidently hope for forgiveness, knowing that I, the Lord, have sworn saying: But if the wicked will do penance for all this sins which he has committed and keep all my commandments, and do judgment and justice, living he shall live and not die. I will not remember all his iniquities that he hath done.

Have confidence, therefore, knowing that I did not hesitate to say to the weeping adulteress: Thy sins are forgiven thee; Knowing that I immediately replied to the penitent thief: today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Remember the father of that prodigal of whom I spoke to thee of old.

Did not that kind parent bestow upon that tear-stained penitent son the kiss of full forgiveness, yea more, show to him the most evident marks of tender affection?

 Am I, my son, not infinitely more loving and forgiving than that father? O thou, who in thy blindness canst not comprehend the immensity of my mercy, how canst thou dare to distrust my goodness?

However great may be the dangers by which thou art surrounded, however numerous may be the wiles and assaults of the devil, however much the sting of the flesh may beset thee, if thou avoidest the occasions of sin and hast recourse to the remedies that I have suggested to thee, confidently look forward to victory, knowing that I have given mine angels charge over him who hopes in me, to keep him in all his ways, that in their hands they should bear him up lest he dash his foot against a stone.

Trust and have confidence, my son, and thou shalt be overshadowed with my shoulders and compassed with the shield of my strength.

Hope, have confidence, and thou shalt walk upon the asp and basilisk, and trample under foot the lion and the dragon. However formidable may be the burden of the priesthood, and arduous its duties, however frail and weak thou mayst be, do not, my son, lose courage. So long as thy heart is ready for every good word, so long as thou laborest as a soldier of Jesus Christ, proceed with confidence and do not fear, knowing that they who hope in the Lord shall clothe themselves with strength, shall take wings like the eagle, shall run and not labor, shall walk and not faint.

Though the direction of souls is the art of arts, nevertheless to the priest of good will who is devoted to prayer and study, my grace is sufficient that he may rightly and adequately fulfill the duties of his sacred ministries. However gratuitous my grace may be, if thou seekest it in humble persevering prayer, rest assured that thy God will aid thee on every occasion and in every necessity.

 Remember that I, who have commanded thee to avoid evil and do good, am ever faithful. Ask, therefore, and it shall be given to thee, knock and it shall be opened unto thee. Heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass. Do not, therefore fear. Have I not, my son, given my precious life for even wicked men? Have I not died for thee when thou wast yet a sinner? Whilst thou wast yet mine enemy, have I not reconciled thee to my Father by my death? Could I have given thee a greater proof of my love?

How canst thou who art already justified in my blood doubt that thou shalt be saved by me from wrath, that thou shalt obtain the forgiveness of thy sins? How canst thou who art good and faithful fear that I will refuse to hear thee, to answer thee and to help thee in the midst of trials, temptations and dangers?

Surely thou knowest, my son, that in such circumstances thy mother would not abandon thee. How much less would I. Yea, more, should she even forget thee, nevertheless I will not forget thee. I, who have made thee, will bear with thee, will support thee and save thee.

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Most Sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thee, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject.

Mindful, alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation, not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the promises of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law.

We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee; we are now determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holy days, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded.

Would that we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honor, the satisfaction Thou once made to Thy Eternal Father on the cross and which Thou continuest to renew daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth, we will live a life of unswerving faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to Thee, so that we may all one day come to that happy home, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit Thou livest and reignest, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Source: From the Raccolta, #256 (S. P. Ap., June 1, 1928 and March 18, 1932); Enchridion of Indulgences #26.
This prayer was prescribed to be recited on this feast by Pope Pius XI

“We pray for all future priests now being formed in the wombs of their mothers, that they may be safe from physical and
spiritual harm, and come to ordination as God intends.”

Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Priests

Remember, O most loving Heart of Jesus, that they for whom I pray are those for whom You prayed so earnestly the night before Your death. These are they to whom You look to continue with You in Your sorrows when others forsake You, who share Your griefs and have inherited your persecutions, according to Your word: That the servant is not greater than his Lord.

Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that they are the objects of the worldʼs hatred and Satanʼs deadliest snares. Keep them then, 0 Jesus, in the safe citadel of Your Sacred Heart and there let them be sanctified in truth.

May they be one with you and one among themselves, and grant that multitudes may be brought through their word to believe in You and love You. Amen.

Novena to the Sacred Heart

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus help me.

“ We pray for the souls of priests in Purgatory, especially those most forgotten and who have no one else to pray for
them. Do Thou deliver them from the dire torments they endure; call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in Paradise.”

Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Priests

Remember, O most loving Heart of Jesus, that they for whom I pray are those for whom You prayed so earnestly the night before Your death. These are they to whom You look to continue with You in Your sorrows when others forsake You, who share Your griefs and have inherited your persecutions, according to Your word: That the servant is not greater than his Lord.

Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that they are the objects of the worldʼs hatred and Satanʼs deadliest snares. Keep them then, 0 Jesus, in the safe citadel of Your Sacred Heart and there let them be sanctified in truth.

May they be one with you and one among themselves, and grant that multitudes may be brought through their word to believe in You and love You. Amen.

Novena to the Sacred Heart

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus help me.

“We pray for priests who are sick, that Our Blessed Lord restore them to health and vigor so that praising Him they may
be able to continue to labor in promoting His greater honor and glory and the salvation of souls. “

Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Priests

Remember, O most loving Heart of Jesus, that they for whom I pray are those for whom You prayed so earnestly the night before Your death. These are they to whom You look to continue with You in Your sorrows when others forsake You, who share Your griefs and have inherited your persecutions, according to Your word: That the servant is not greater than his Lord.

Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that they are the objects of the worldʼs hatred and Satanʼs deadliest snares. Keep them then, 0 Jesus, in the safe citadel of Your Sacred Heart and there let them be sanctified in truth.

May they be one with you and one among themselves, and grant that multitudes may be brought through their word to believe in You and love You. Amen.

Novena to the Sacred Heart

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus help me.

“We pray that priests will be devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and find in her the love and comfort of a mother, the
most powerful intercession of our greatest saint, and the surest refuge against Satan and his cohorts who seek the destruction of priests and the priesthood.”

Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Priests

Remember, O most loving Heart of Jesus, that they for whom I pray are those for whom You prayed so earnestly the night before Your death. These are they to whom You look to continue with You in Your sorrows when others forsake You, who share Your griefs and have inherited your persecutions, according to Your word: That the servant is not greater than his Lord.

Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that they are the objects of the worldʼs hatred and Satanʼs deadliest snares. Keep them then, 0 Jesus, in the safe citadel of Your Sacred Heart and there let them be sanctified in truth.

May they be one with you and one among themselves, and grant that multitudes may be brought through their word to believe in You and love You. Amen.

Novena to the Sacred Heart

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus help me.

“We pray for all the priests of Thy Church, especially for those who do not adore Thee, for those who are wounded in
their souls, and for those who are exposed to the attacks of the powers of darkness.”

Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Priests

Remember, O most loving Heart of Jesus, that they for whom I pray are those for whom You prayed so earnestly the night before Your death. These are they to whom You look to continue with You in Your sorrows when others forsake You, who share Your griefs and have inherited your persecutions, according to Your word: That the servant is not greater than his Lord.

Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that they are the objects of the worldʼs hatred and Satanʼs deadliest snares. Keep them then, 0 Jesus, in the safe citadel of Your Sacred Heart and there let them be sanctified in truth.

May they be one with you and one among themselves, and grant that multitudes may be brought through their word to believe in You and love You. Amen.

Novena to the Sacred Heart

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus help me.

“We pray for those poor lost priests who have broken the oath of their holy ordination and have become unfaithful to their exalted calling. 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.”

Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Priests

Remember, O most loving Heart of Jesus, that they for whom I pray are those for whom You prayed so earnestly the night before Your death. These are they to whom You look to continue with You in Your sorrows when others forsake You, who share Your griefs and have inherited your persecutions, according to Your word: That the servant is not greater than his Lord.

Remember, O Heart of Jesus, that they are the objects of the worldʼs hatred and Satanʼs deadliest snares. Keep them then, 0 Jesus, in the safe citadel of Your Sacred Heart and there let them be sanctified in truth.

May they be one with you and one among themselves, and grant that multitudes may be brought through their word to believe in You and love You. Amen.

Novena to the Sacred Heart

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying, Heart of Jesus help me.