The Humility of a Priest- Prayer of St. Ambrose. Lord Jesus Christ, I approach Your banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth, but only on Your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts and words. Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek Your protection, I look for Your healing. Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to You, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear Your judgment, but I trust in Your salvation.
The Humility of a Priest- Prayer of St. Ambrose
Lord Jesus Christ, I approach Your banquet table in fear and trembling,
for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth, but only on Your
goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul, and
by my unguarded thoughts and words.
Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek Your protection, I look for
Your healing. Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to You, the
fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear Your judgment, but I trust in Your
salvation. Lord, I show my wounds to You and uncover my shame
before You. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with
fear, but I hope in Your mercies for they cannot be numbered.
Lord Jesus Christ, eternal King, God and man, crucified for humanity,
look upon me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in You. Have
mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of Your compassion
never ends. Praise to You, saving sacrifice, offered upon the wood of
the cross for me and for all humanity. Praise to the noble and precious
blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and
washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember Lord, Your
creature, whom You have redeemed with Your blood. I repent my sins,
and I long to put right what I have done.
Merciful Father, take away all my offences and sins; purify me in body
and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May Your
body and blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, be
for me the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, the end
of my evil thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite
me to do the works pleasing to You and profitable to my health in body
and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.
“So also Christ did not glorify Himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the One Who said to Him, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”, as He says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 5:5-6)
Let us pray. Father in Heaven, in calling this priest to the episcopacy,
you have given him the gift of being a spiritual father to the many
people he will meet throughout his life. What an honor, burden, and gift!
Help him to live out this calling with love and generosity: giving
example of a virtuous life, guiding and correcting their spiritual sons and
daughters in a firm but gentle way, and providing for their spiritual
needs with untiring generosity. We thank You for choosing him from
among us, so that he may understand us as we understand them, suffer
with us and rejoice with us, worry with us and trust with us,
accompanying us in the joys and sorrows of this life. Allow both him
and the people he serves to mutually benefit from this unique
relationship and grow ever closer to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Help to mend the brokenhearted with fatherly love and tender
compassion. Amen.
