Spiritual Motherhood for Priests

"A vocation comes from the heart of God,
but goes through the heart of the mother."

~ Pope St. Pius X ~

This past week, I stumbled upon this sermon on Audio Sancto and a challenge to become spiritual mothers. In his sermon, the priest shares three things that any girl (as young as age 7) or woman can do to be a spiritual mother. Those three things are as follows:

1. Pray before the Blessed Sacrament (or at home before a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart) once a week specifically asking for vocations. Father suggests praying a Memorare asking Our Lady to conform ourselves more perfectly to her and a Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus asking Our Lord for vocations.
2. On the first Sunday of each month offer up your Communion for vocations.
3. After Mass, recite this simple prayer begging God for vocations.

"O God grant that one of my sons may become a priest. I myself want to live as a good Christian and want to guide my children always to do what is right, so that I may receive the grace, O God, to be allowed to give you a holy priest!
Amen"

"O Jesus, Eternal Priest, keep Thy priests within the shelter of Thy Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.

Keep unstained their anointed hands,
which daily touch Thy Sacred Body. 

Keep unsullied their lips,
daily purpled with Thy Precious Blood. 

Keep pure and unworldly their hearts,
sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. 

Let Thy Holy Love surround them from the world's contagion. 

Bless their labors with abundant fruit,
and may the souls to whom they minister 

be their joy and consolation here and their everlasting crown hereafter."

~ St. Therese of Lisieux ~

Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us; obtain for us many holy priests. Amen.