After Jesus' death and resurrection, priests and bishops became the guardians of the faith and were entrusted with the task of feeding the flock of Christ.
They were also given the task of preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth, bringing Jesus' message of love and mercy to as many people as possible.
These are not easy tasks. They require sacrifice, and many young men might hesitate to commit to such a life.
This has led to a decrease in men responding to God's call, reducing the number of shepherds working in the Lord's fields.
She keeps watch
In times such as these, it is important to turn to the Virgin Mary, as St. John Paul II explained in his apostolic exhortation Pastores dabo vobis:
Every aspect of priestly formation can be referred to Mary, the human being who has responded better than any other to God's call. Mary became both the servant and the disciple of the Word to the point of conceiving, in her heart and in her flesh, the Word made man, so as to give him to mankind. Mary was called to educate the one eternal priest, who became docile and subject to her motherly authority. With her example and intercession the Blessed Virgin keeps vigilant watch over the growth of vocations and priestly life in the Church.
We can turn to her, asking her to protect our current priests but also to inspire other young men to respond to the Lord's invitation.
Here is a prayer St. John Paul II composed that invokes Mary under her title of "Mother of Priests."
Prayer to Mary, Mother of Priests
O Mary,
Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests,
accept this title which we bestow on you
to celebrate your motherhood
and to contemplate with you the priesthood
of, your Son and of your sons,
O holy Mother of God.
O Mother of Christ,
to the Messiah - priest you gave a body of flesh
through the anointing of the Holy Spirit
for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart;
guard priests in your heart and in the Church,
O Mother of the Savior.
O Mother of Faith,
you accompanied to the Temple the Son of Man,
the fulfillment of the promises given to the fathers;
give to the Father for his glory
the priests of your Son,
O Ark of the Covenant.
O Mother of the Church,
in the midst of the disciples in the upper room
you prayed to the Spirit
for the new people and their shepherds;
obtain for the Order of Presbyters
a full measure of gifts,
O Queen of the Apostles.
O Mother of Jesus Christ,
you were with him at the beginning
of his life and mission,
you sought the Master among the crowd,
you stood beside him when he was lifted
up from the earth
consumed as the one eternal sacrifice,
and you had John, your son, near at hand;
accept from the beginning those
who have been called,
protect their growth,
in their life ministry accompany
your sons,
O Mother of Priests.
Amen.
