To the Holy Curé of Ars — for parish priests

Prayer to the Holy Curé of Ars (St John Mary Baptist Vianney, 1786-1859), parish priest of Ars-en-Dombes (France), declared universal patron of all parish priests in the world by Pius XII in the encyclical Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia (1 Aug 1959, on the centenary of his death). Pius XI had previously declared him patron of the parish priests of France (encyclical Mens Nostra, 1929).

Glorious St John Mary Vianney, Holy Curé of Ars, universal patron of parish priests, who devoted your life to the service of the poor, to the confessional and to the altar, sustained by penance and unceasing prayer:

intercede for all the priests of Holy Church, especially for the parish priests who care for the people of God. Obtain for them the grace of fidelity to the divine call, of zealous love for the souls entrusted to them, of patience in the confessional, of detachment from material things, of recollection in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Stir up among young men generous priestly vocations; sustain seminarians in their formation; comfort priests tried by weariness, loneliness, or persecution.

By your merits before the Heart of Jesus, obtain for your Church many holy pastors according to the Heart of Christ. Amen.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be.