A prayer to begin and end our week

A few weeks back, our priest during his homily mentioned how dire the lack of new vocations to the priesthood is becoming in our diocese. He said that back when he was in the seminary, young men were being turned away, because there was "no room." They were being told to try studying for other dioceses, as the seminary was overflowing, and each parish already had multiple priests! Now, as our priest nears retirement age, he said that the situation is quite different. The diocese is ordaining only 1 priest this year. Parishes have closed, and of course, have only a single pastor trying to run everything on his own. When a priest needs to take a vacation or attend to a family need, it is a huge stress to find someone to cover Masses for him. And then he sweats out if calls come in for hospitalized parishoners and emergency requests for sacraments off-site.

It's quite a difficult situation. And he mentioned that discussions are now underway to develop regulations for priestless parishes, which is just a terrifying thought. Priest administrators would be undertaking multiple parishes and when he was unavailable at a given parish, lay people would be doing things.

I can't imagine this being a good thing.

So, I thought that anybody who wishes could start their week with a prayer for more priests. I have a few provided below. :)

Prayer #1

O Holy Spirit, Spirit of wisdom and divine love, impart Your knowledge, understanding, and counsel to youth that they may know the vocation wherein they can best serve God. Give them courage and strength to follow God's holy will. Guide their uncertain steps, strengthen their resolutions, shield their chastity, fashion their minds, conquer their hearts, and lead them to the vineyards where they will labor in God's holy service.
Amen.

Prayer #2

GOD our FATHER,
WHO wills that all men be saved
And come to the knowledge of YOUR Truth:
We beg you to send
Laborers into YOUR harvest,
And grant them grace to speak YOUR Word
With all boldness; so that YOUR Word
May spread and be glorified,
And all nations may know YOU,
The only GOD, and HIM WHOM YOU have sent,
JESUS CHRIST YOUR SON, Our LORD. Amen.

Our Lady, Queen of the Americas,
And Mary, Mother of the
Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word,
Pray for us. 

*Prayers from EWTN