O Priest of God, may the Heavenly Father grant you the grace to offer this Mass as though it were your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass. Amen.
Priest’s Prayer After Hearing Confessions
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, receive this performance of my ministry with that surpassing love with which Thou didst absolve blessed Mary Magdalene and all sinners flying to Thee. Whatever in the administration of this Sacrament I may have performed negligently and unworthily, do Thou deign to supply and satisfy. I recommend to Thy most Sacred Heart all and each who have now confessed to me, asking Thee to guard them from relapse. After the misery of this life lead them with me into the joys of eternal life. Amen.
Priest’s Prayer Before Hearing Confessions
Grant to me, O Lord, that wisdom which stands beside Thy throne, that I may know how to judge Thy people with justice, and Thy poor ones with equity. Let me so use the keys of the Kingdom of heaven that I may open to no one upon whom they should shut, nor close them to any for whom they should open. May my intention be pure, my zeal sincere, my charity patient, my labor fruitful. Let me be gentle without weakness, severe without harshness. Let me not disdain the poor; nor fawn upon the rich. Make me kind that I may attract sinners, prudent in questioning them, adroit in directing them. Grant, I beseech Thee, skill to lead them back from sin, zeal in confirming them in good, diligence in elevating them to better things. Grant me good judgment in answering questions, correctness in counseling. Give me light when things are obscure, wisdom when they are entangled, victory when they are difficult. May I myself be not lost. Amen.
A Priests’ Prayer for Priests
Father, we praise and thank you for choosing us to share in the one Priesthood of your Son. Help us to know that even in our weakness you love us and have need of us to renew your people. Help us to recognize your call to the laity and to encourage the role your Spirit summons forth from them in your Church. Enable us to be a constant sign of hope to all your people, especially those who are discouraged and exhausted. Send your Spirit to empower us to touch the lives of those who are cynical and alienated. Help us to pray better and to grow in holiness. Strengthen our hearts with a love that is chaste and unselfish. Be close to us in our loneliness and enrich us with the nearness of true friends. Help us to appreciate that we can be fruitful in the ministry of your Son only in union with our bishop, in solidarity with our fellow priests and in listening to your Spirit speaking in the lives of men and women in your Church. Father, build up in us the unity your Son prayed for with His apostles at His Last Supper. Remind us that our priestly fraternity calls us always to help one another. May we be true brothers to priests who are sick, overburdened with work, far from their homeland, lonely, or who have failed in some way. Father, we make our prayer to you, through your Son Jesus Christ, the first Priest, in union with the Holy Spirit, who anoints all priests, forever and ever. Amen.
Priest’s Prayer to the Blessed Trinity
May the tribute of my humble ministry be pleasing to you, Holy Trinity. Grant that the sacrifice which I, unworthy as I am, have offered in the presence of your majesty, may be acceptable to you. Through your mercy may it bring forgiveness to me and to all for whom I have offered it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Priest’s Statement of Intention to Offer the Holy Mass
My purpose is to celebrate Mass and to make present the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the rite of the holy Roman Church to the praise of our all-powerful God and all His assembly in the glory of heaven, for my good and the good of all His pilgrim Church on earth, and for all who have asked me to pray for them, in general and in particular, and for the good of the holy Roman Church. Amen.
May the almighty and merciful Lord grant us joy and peace, amendment of life, room for true repentance, the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit, and perseverance in good works. Amen.
Psalm 51: Miserere (Repentance)
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offense. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. My offenses truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. That you may be justified when you give sentence and be without reproach when you judge. O see, in guilt was I born, a sinner was I conceived. Indeed you love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom. O purify me, then I shall be clean; O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear rejoicing and gladness, that the bones you have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away your face and blot out all my guilt. A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, nor deprive me of your holy spirit. Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervor sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you. O rescue me, God, my helper, and my tongue shall ring out your goodness. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise. For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering from me you would refuse; my sacrifice, a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn. In your goodness, show favor to Zion: rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, holocausts offered on your altar. Amen.
Lord, Receive this Sinner
by Basil of Caesarea (330-379)
O Lord and Master, I am unworthy both of heaven and of earth, because I have surrendered myself to sin, and become the slave of worldly pleasures. Yet, since you created me, and since you can shape me as you want, I do not despair of salvation; but made bold by your compassionate love, I come before you. Receive me, dear Lord, as you received the harlot, the thief, the tax collector and even the prodigal son. You love all people, so pour out your love upon me. Lift from me the heavy burden of sin, cleanse every stain of unrighteousness from me, and wash me white with the waters of holiness. Amen.
Reflecting Your Brightness
by William of Saint Thierry (1085-1148)
Loving you, O God, brings its own reward here on earth, as well as the eternal reward of heaven. And failure to love you, even when we can offer a thousand excuses, brings its own punishment. By becoming mirrors of your love, by wearing the mask of your likeness, and by allowing you to make us perfect, we can know the joy of heaven, even while we abide here on earth. Our consciences are sullied by our many sins; cleanse them, that we may reflect your infinite brightness. Amen.
Retribuere Dignare, Domine
Reign, O Lord, to grant eternal life to all of us who do good works for the sake of your name. Amen.