Prayer on the Sycamore for priests in doubt
When a priest begins to doubt
A priest is a human being.
He goes through the death of his parents, of those close to him.
He struggles with illness.
He experiences loneliness.
He carries the stories of hundreds of people in his heart.
He is a psychologist to many, a father, a brother, a friend, a confessor, a rescue, a consoler, a therapist.
Every day he listens to accounts of marriages falling apart, of addictions, illness, death and human suffering.
And at the same time he is expected to show:
- strength
- patience
- availability
- faith
- an answer to every question
- support
- appropriate behaviour
- inner joy
- time for everything and everyone
Few people ask:
how are you feeling?
When doubt comes
Doubt can wear many faces.
It may take the form of:
- loneliness
- burnout
- a crisis of faith
- depression
- addiction
- being misunderstood
- the loss of any sense of purpose in ministry
- illness, his own or that of those close to him
Not every crisis leads to someone walking away.
But every one of them needs prayer.
Including the crisis that is lived through in silence.
Priests need our prayer
It is through the hands of a priest that we receive the sacraments.
He is the one who celebrates the Eucharist.
He is the one who absolves.
He is the one who anoints the sick.
He is the one who accompanies a person from baptism to the last moments of life.
That is why we pray for those who have been called.
Not because they are perfect.
But because they are needed.
Who is this prayer for?
This prayer is offered:
- for priests living through doubt
- for priests struggling with loneliness
- for clergy going through illness or depression
- for those who have lost the joy of their vocation
- for priests facing difficult decisions
- for priests rejected by their brother priests
- for seminarians discerning their path
What is the Prayer on the Sycamore for priests in doubt?
It is a daily prayer of intercession for priests and religious who are passing through a time of trial.
We pray:
- for perseverance
- for peace of heart
- for the renewal of their vocation
- for the light of the Holy Spirit
- for the holiness of priests
Without judging.
Without gossip.
Without looking for someone to blame.
With faith that God can raise a person up even when they themselves can no longer see any hope.
Power is made perfect in weakness! My grace is sufficient for you.
This is the prayer of many poor little Figs, for those who lead us to God every day, even though they themselves sometimes walk through the valley of doubt. For priests who need our prayer more than they are ready to ask for it.