Prayers for Those to be Ordained

I will fly to Melbourne this Saturday afternoon, God willing – though I'll be too late to attend the Saturday morning ordinations at St Patrick's Cathedral on Our Lady's birthday, I will be attending the Sunday Mass to be concelebrated by four of those newly-ordained at Holy Cross, South Caulfield, and there share the joy of those just come into full communion with the Catholic Church, as the first Victorian members of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross join in solemn worship, offering Christ to the Father, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all the Holy Church of God.  Of course, we must not forget the other four men also to be ordained priests of God and ministers of the New Testament: they, too, will be celebrating their First Masses in Melbourne this Sunday.

The Anglican Patrimony that such incomers bring with them contains such gems as these following prayers for those to be ordained: while I should have posted them earlier, at least now I have tardily done so I hope readers may spare a moment to pray them for all those soon to be ordained, particularly these four for the Australian Ordinariate: James Grant, Neil Fryer, Christopher Seton and Ramsay Williams.  It will be my pleasure to assist at their Mass, to receive their blessing, and to congratulate them on their brave move into full communion.

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Let us pray for those that are to be admitted into Holy Orders.

V. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness;

R. And let thy saints sing with joyfulness. 

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son: Mercifully look upon the same, and at this time so guide and govern the minds of thy servants the Bishops and Pastors of thy flock, that they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons to serve in the sacred Ministry of thy Church. And to those which shall be ordained to any holy function give thy grace and heavenly benediction; that both by their life and doctrine they may set forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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V. O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord:

R. Praise him, and magnify him for ever.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross, pray for them.

St Augustine of Canterbury, pray for them.

Blessed John Henry Newman, pray for them.