The Foundation of Prayer for Priests (FPP), an international apostolate, materialized in 2013 out of a void that co-founder and Diocese of Orange parishioner Kathleen Beckman saw in this era of the New Evangelization: to protect the Church’s spiritual leaders with prayer.
Ms. Beckman co-founded FPP with Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk, JCD, Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Orange’s Office of Canonical Services, who also serves as the foundation’s spiritual director. The essential nature of FPP, according to Monsignor Doktorczyk, is to “promote the pious practice of praying for priests, offering suggestions and ideas as to how to effectively do so.”
The impetus of launching the foundation, Monsignor Doktorczyk explains, “came from an initiative of the Holy See’s Congregation for the Clergy.”
Within three years since its inception, “the number of spiritual mothers and fathers, clergy and religious now spans 20 countries and thousands of members,” Ms. Beckman writes. The Foundation of Prayer for Priests website speaks of prayer places dubbed “Vianney Cenacles,” named after the patron of priests, St. John Vianney. Whether in homes, parishes, or prayer groups, Vianney Cenacles provide outlets for those who desire “to build a spiritual foundation of prayer for clergy and seminarians by spiritually adopting them.”
The Foundation of Prayer for Priests offers concrete ways to actualize what is often a saying vulnerable to a hasty, insincere cliché: “I’ll pray for you.” Among these recommendations is entering into the prayerful silence of Eucharistic Adoration.
Indeed, the original initiative from the Congregation of the Clergy, which would later serve as the inspiration for the creation of the foundation, found Eucharistic Adoration so central it published Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity in 2007. It was signed by the then-prefect for the Congregation of the Clergy, Cardinal Hummes.
Monsignor Dokotrczyk recommends anyone interested in becoming more involved in the Foundation of Prayer for Priests movement to study the document. Its engaging contents contain short biographical sketches of figures throughout Church history. Among them is Anna Stang, who as a young woman kept the faith amid oppression under Soviet Communism. “Lord, give us priests again!” she bemoaned while in offering up her sufferings for the betterment of priests. “Give us Holy Communion!”
Full story at OC Catholic.
Yes, they certainly do need prayers, especially the good ones. They seem to be special targets for demonic attack, and though most of us will never know the extent, these men do suffer for their charges. As for the not so good ones, they need prayers for conversion of heart, so pray for them as well.
The Pope, cardinals, and bishops are also priests, but with much more power. Priests at all level need constant prayer to remain faithful to Jesus and to the priestly munera of teaching , sanctifying and guiding according to Christ, not to the world’s criteria. I pray for all of the priests of the dioceses of San Diego and Honolulu by name every day, the deceased ones on the anniversary of their death. 1Cor 10:13 says God provides a way through temptation. He also adds abundant grace to others when in our holiness we pray for others, extrapolated from James 5:17-19. Pray for me, please, and pray for all priests starting with Pope Francis, your respective bishop, and all priests in your diocese. I have a list for the San Diego people…
I have a list for the San Diego people if they contact me outside this website
May God bless you, Father. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John Vianney, and all the saints in Heaven pray for you.
All priests need prayer, “good” or “bad”. Too many fail to acknowledge the enormous sacrifice made by priests in their decision to serve the public. Let us remember that they are humans like the rest of us. Their self sacrifice saves lives, and despite or because of that, they get attacked when they help people nobody likes, when they help people the world doom yo fail in life.