Grant, O Lord,
that every hand laid upon you at the altar
may be a friendly hand,
whose touch is tender and consoling as Joseph's was;
that the lips which form so many sacred words
may never be profaned by frivolous or unworthy speech;
that priests may guard,
even in the noisy streets of the city,
the impress of their noble functions,
the bright token that they have
but lately come down from your holy mountain;
and in their garments the fragrance of the altar,
that everyone may find them living memorials of you,
accessible to all,
yet more than other men.

Grant that they may contract from the Mass of today
a hunger and thirst for the Mass of the morrow,
that the sacred anticipation be their last thought at night
and your tender summons their first awareness in the morning;
that your priests,
filled with you and your good gifts,
may give largely to the rest of men who look to you.

Amen.