Watch: Prayers Upon the Eve of Priestly Ordination | Deacon Mark Martin

Tomorrow, June 12, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, will see Deacon Mark Martin ordained to the sacred priesthood for the Diocese of Lansing by Bishop Earl Boyea. Deo gratias!

You will be able to watch the ordination live from Saint Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing on YouTube at the following link. Holy Mass begins at 10.30am:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfx45BntjLL2Qfz4Jk2wmUA

Here’s a great video as Deacon Mark explains his incredible path to the priesthood including his conversion from Mormonism to Catholicism at the age of 16.

Of your charity, please pray that Deacon Mark’s priesthood will be happy, holy and fruitful. To help you, here is Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s Prayer for Priests which, fittingly, commends the presbyterate to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let us pray:

Mary, Mother of Jesus, throw your mantle of purity over our priests. Protect them, guide them, and keep them in your heart.Be a Mother to them, especially in times of discouragement and loneliness. Love them and keep them belonging completely to Jesus.

Like Jesus, they, too, are your sons, so keep their hearts pure and virginal. Keep their minds filled with Jesus, and put Jesus always on their lips, so that he is the one they offer to sinner and to all they meet.

Mary, Mother of Jesus, be their Mother, loving them and bringing them joy. Take special care of sick and dying priests, and the ones most tempted. Remember how they spent their youth and old age, their entire lives serving and giving all to Jesus.

Mary, bless them and keep a special place for them in your heart. Give them a piece of your heart, so beautiful and pure and immaculate, so full of love and humility, so that they, too, can grow in the likeness of Christ. Dear Mary, make them humble like you, and holy like Jesus. Amen.