"Whoever voices judgment over a priest has voiced it over Me; child, never let a priest be attacked, take up his defense." (1937)

"If you see a priest who celebrates the Holy Mass unworthily then say nothing about him, rather tell it to Me alone! I stand beside him on the altar." "Oh pray much for My priests, that they'll love purity above all, that they'll celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with pure hands and hearts. Certainly the Holy Sacrifice is one and the same even when it is celebrated by an unworthy priest, but the graces called down upon the people is not the same!"(2/28/1939)

"Child, never judge your confessor, rather pray much for him and offer every Thursday, through the hands of My Blessed Mother, Holy Communion for him."(6/18/1939)

"Never again accept an out-of-the-way word about a priest, and speak no unkind word about them EVEN IF IT WERE TRUE! Every priest is My Vicar, and My Heart will be sickened and insulted because of it! If you hear a judgment against a priest, pray a Hail Mary."(6/28/1939)

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS:
O, Jesus, I pray for Your faithful and fervent priests; for Your unfaithful and tepid priests; for Your priests living at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Your tempted priests; for Your young priests; for Your dying priests; for the souls of Your priests in Purgatory.

Above all, I commend to You the priests dearest to me: the priest who baptized me; the priest who confirmed me; those priests who have absolved me from my sins; those priests at whose Masses I assisted, and who gave me Your Most Precious Body and Blood in Holy Communion; those priests who taught and instructed me; and those priests who have helped me in any way.

O, Jesus, keep them all close to Your Dearest Heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.

PRAYER POEM FOR PRIESTS:
Keep them, I pray Thee, Dearest Lord; keep them, for they are Thine.
Thy priests whose lives burn out before Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world, though from the world apart.
When earthly pleasures tempt and allure, shelter them in Thy Heart.
Keep them, and comfort them in hours of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice for souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and remember O, Lord, they have no one but Thee.
Yet, they have only human hearts, with human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host that daily they caress.
Their every thought, word, and deed, deign, Dearest Lord, to bless.

Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for them.

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS:
Lord, in Your love for the Church, You provide bishops, priests, and deacons as shepherds for Your people, and You call men and women to leave all things to serve You joyfully in religious life.

May those whom You have raised up as servants of the Gospel and ministers for Your altars show forth dedication and compassion.

May those whom You have chosen to serve You as religious provide, by their way of life, a convincing sign of Your Kingdom for the Church and the whole world.

ANOTHER PRAYER FOR PRIESTLY VOCATIONS:
O Lord, my God, You renew the Church in every age by raising up priests outstanding in holiness, living witnesses of Your unchanging Love. In Your Plan for our salvation You provide shepherds for Your people.

Fill the hearts of young men with the spirit of courage and love that they may answer Your call generously. Give parents the grace to encourage vocations in their family by prayer and good example.

Raise up worthy priests for Your Altars and ardent, but gentle servants of the Gospel. Give the Church more priests and keep them faithful in their love and service. May many young men choose to serve You by devoting themselves to the service of Your people.

Source: 'Treasury of Novenas', Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D., Catholic Book Publishing Co, New York, 1986

PRAYER FOR DEVOTED LAITY IN THE CHURCH:
O Lord, our God, You called Your people to be Your Church. As they gather together in Your Name, may the love, honor, and follow Your Son to eternal life in the Kingdom He promised.

Let their worship always be sincere, and help them to find Your saving Love in the Church and Its Sacraments.

Fill with the Spirit of Christ those whom You call to live in the midst of the world and its concern. Help them by their work on earth to build up Your eternal Kingdom. May they be effective witnesses to the Truth of the Gospel and make Your Church a living presence in the midst of the world.

Increase the gifts You have given Your Church that Your faithful people may continue to grow in holiness in imitation of Your Beloved Son.