Spiritual Motherhood for Priests: Praying for the Protection and Sanctification of Our Priests

During the Rite of Ordination, the bishop anoints the hands of the future priest and says, “The Father anointed our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. May Jesus preserve you to sanctify the Christian people and to offer sacrifice to God.”

When priests are ordained, they are taking on a huge responsibility. They face a life full of joy, but it doesn’t come without troubles and temptations. We need priests to lead lay people in the Catholic faith, so we must keep our priests in our prayers. In March 2009, Sandy Pickett took on this responsibility to pray for priests when she was consecrated with 30 other women of the Diocese of Tulsa under the apostolate of the Spiritual Motherhood for Priests. This is a lifelong commitment to pray and offer sacrifices for an anonymous priest from the diocese. At the time, this was coordinated through the Diocese of Tulsa. At her consecration, Sandy received a medal inscribed with the last part of the blessing of a priest’s hands, “Receive the power to offer sacrifice unto God.”

This apostolate was founded by an Ohio woman named Mary Anne Gronotte. In 2007, the Congregation of the Clergy approved the Spiritual Motherhood for Priests and invited laywomen to adopt priests as their sons and pray for them, especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Sandy and the other women were led through formation for this apostolate by Fr. Mark Daniel Kirby, OSB.

“Spiritual Motherhood is offering to God our lives, prayers, and sacrifices for the protection and sanctification of priests,” Sandy says.

Over time, other women at the parish have joined Sandy to pray each Thursday morning following daily Mass. They gather at about 7:30 a.m. Although there is no longer a formation program for Spiritual Motherhood in the diocese, all are welcome to come pray a special Rosary, which was written by Fr. Kirby. The Rosary reflections cover the life of Christ as priest and victim.

“These dear friends of mine wanted to join me in praying,” Sandy says. “Once they prayed this Rosary for the first time, they were hooked.”

Throughout all of these years, Sandy has been praying for the same priest she was given at her consecration. She also prays for all priests.

“Although I don’t know who the priest is, God knows,” Sandy says. “I don’t know the impact those prayers have had, but God knows.”

Sandy invites anyone who feels a calling to pray for priests to join the group on Thursday mornings. She also asks all of us to pray for our priests and offer sacrifices for them. We need good, holy priests all over the world.

“As Catholics, we have an obligation to pray for our priests,” Sandy says. “Our priests are constantly being attacked by Satan.”

In addition to this rosary for priests, Sandy prays a morning offering for priests every day as well as the Office in the Liturgy of the Hours as part of her daily sacrifice for her priest-son.

Please join us at the Rosary for priests, after the Thursday 7 a.m. Mass each week.

Sandy Pickett received this Spiritual Motherhood medal at her consecration.

The group prays a special Rosary together.

The Spiritual Motherhood group gathers every Thursday.