CONSECRATION OF PRIESTS TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Lord Jesus, our most loving Redeemer and a priest forever, look down with mercy upon us Thy supplicants, whom Thou has deigned to call Thy friends and to make partakers of Thy priesthood. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be forever. Therefore to Thy Most Sacred Heart, which Thou hast shown to toiling humanity as its only refuge and salvation, we dedicate and surrender ourselves today. Thou who hast promised to priests who are devoted to Thy Sacred Heart copious fruits in their divine ministry, make us, we beseech Thee, fit laborers in Thy vineyard, truly meek and humble, filled with a spirit of devotion and patience, so aflame with love of Thee that we may not cease to enkindle and keep burning this same fire of love in the hearts of the faithful.

Renew our hearts, therefore, in the fire of Thy Heart, so that henceforth we may strive for nothing other than to advance Thy glory and to win to Thee the souls whom Thou hast redeemed by Thy Precious Blood. O Good Shepherd, have mercy most of all upon Thy priests, our brothers, if such there be, who, walking in the vanity of their own mind, have saddened Thee and Thy Beloved Spouse, the Church, by their lamentable defection. 

Grant us grace to lead them back to Thine embrace, or at least to expiate their sins, to repair the damage they have done, and, by the consolation of our love, to lessen the sorrow with which they have afflicted Thee.

And lastly let each of us pray to Thee in these words of Augustine: O sweet Jesus, live Thou in me, and let the living coal of thy love glow within my spirit and blaze up into a perfect fire; let it burn forever upon the altar of my heart; let it give warmth to my inmost parts; let it flame up in the secret places of my soul. In the day of my consummation let me be found consumed by Thee, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.